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NOTES 



PROM THE 



LETTERS OF THOMAS MOORE 



TO HIS 



MUSIC PUBLISHER, JAMES POWER, 



(THE PUBLICATION OF WHICH WERE SUPPRESSED If» LONDON.) 

WITH AN INTRODUCTORY LETTER FROM 



THOMAS CEOFTON jjEOKEE, ESQ., F.S.A, 

OF LONDON, 

MEMBER OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY. 
ETC. ETC. ETC. 




REDFIELD: 

110 AND 112, NASSAU STREET, 
NEW YORK. 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER 

FROM 

T. CROFTON CROKER, ESQ. 



3, Gloucester Road, Old Brompton, 
London, 8th March, 1854. 

To J. S. Redfield, Esa. 

110, Nassau Street, New York. 

Dear Sir : — I have to thank you for your courtesy in forward- 
ing to me the sheets of " Notes from the Letters of Thomas 
Moore to his Music Publisher, James Power," which, having been 
suppressed in this country, were purchased by you for publica- 
tion in America, and requesting to know, with reference to myself, 
whether there is any thing I would wish to have altered or 
cancelled therein. 

Whoever the editor may be, I will presume to make no correc- 
tions upon what he is pleased to state respecting myself ; there is 
indeed little or nothing on my part to object to, except that matters 
of such small moment as those in which I am named should be 
thought worthy of being recalled to memory : and I only beg to 
observe that at p. 81, the woodcut given was from a drawing by my 
friend William Henry Brooke, although I certainly did design the 
engraved title-page of the 8th number of the Irish Melodies — a 
group of antiquarian objects surmounted by an Irish harp ; to which 
Moore refers. However, "violently," as you observe, the Right 
Honorable John Wilson Croker remonstrated in the Times of 30th 
January last against Lord John Russell's " spitefulness," I have 
nothing whatever to do with their literary or political differences, 
although Mr. Wilson Croker is an old and valued friend of mine. 
I will therefore proceed, to the best of my humble ability, to 
reply calmly to your questions ; and if I should exceed the ordi- 



IV INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

nary limits of a letter, I trust to your indulgence to pardon my 
tediousness. 

Thomas Moore — about whom I need not say one word here, as 
a poet — died on the 26th February, 1852, and for some time pre- 
vious to his death, it was no secret that, like Swift, Scott and Sou- 
they, his mental faculties had been gone. It was also generally 
known that for some years previous to the failure of his memory 
he was in the habit of keeping a journal and of writing notes, with 
the view of leaving behind him materials for a Biography, as a 
provision for his widow. But who the editor of that Biography 
was to have been did not exactly trauspire until the promulgation 
of the poet's will, written in 1828, in which Lord John Russell 
was named. A " task" which his Lordship, in compliance with his 
promise, nobly undertook. How he has accomplished it is another 
question ; nor have I any thing to do with American opinions 
respecting Viscount Mahon or Lord John Russell as- historians, 
whatever my own opinion may be. 

It had been a curious practice with Moore to ask various people 
to write a posthumous Memoir of him. He certainly did so to 
Viscount Strangford in 1806, to myself in 1819, and I have been 
well assured, to others subsequently. Among them, the late Mr. 
Moran, the sub-editor of the Globe newspaper, who in conse- 
quence formed extensive but not very important collections chiefly 
of newspaper-cuttings for the purpose. On the 25th April, 1837, 
Moore visited Moran, and on the following clay the latter thus wrote 
to me — " Moore was particularly pleased with my annotated copy 
of his works, saying, ' Well, it is something to have a commentator, 
and a friendly one too, while one is alive.' He also obtained a 
promise that I was to let him have the use of my collection for a 
posthumous work which he contemplates, and which I hope the 
public will long lack the sight of. I gave him a hint of your 
treasures, of which also— i. e. of their existence — he seemed well 
aware." 

The connection which had existed between the late Mr. Power, 
the publisher of Moore's most popular work, the Irish Melodies, 
from the year 1S06 to Mr. Power's death in 1S36, with a short 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. V 

interval of estrangement in 1832-3, always induced me to regard 
the collection of Moore's letters to him, which he had carefully 
preserved, as perhaps the most important series of documents for 
the poet's biography ; and that they are "irretrievably dispersed," 
to use the words of your advertisement, " has been and still is a 
matter of regret," which however adds considerably to the value 
of your book. 

The widow of Mr. Power died on the 1/th July, 1850 ; and by 
her these letters, manuscript music, the musical copyright of the 
Irish Melodies and other works, were bequeathed to her unmarried 
daughters. 

Some months afterwards, in conversation with the Misses Power, 
I offered to assist them in arranging this mass of letters ; and as it 
appeared to me that many of them might be required for publica- 
tion, and that a certain value attached to the originals as autographs, 
I recommended them to prepare transcripts to be ready when 
wanted, as the doing so would be a work of time and labour, and 
the state of Moore's mind and health had then removed all delicacy 
of feeling on the subject. I observed to these ladies, who were 
perfectly aware of the fact, that Moore was then dead to the 
world ; and that in whatever shape a Memoir of him was to appear 
upon his bodily demise, or whoever was to be the editor of his Jour- 
nal, the most interesting letters would probably be selected for 
publication, and if not copied, might in passing through the press 
be either injured or destroyed. For many months did these ladies 
assiduously transcribe the letters in their possession, to the amount 
of about twelve hundred, which had been addressed by the poet 
Moore to their late father. And if, as Mr. Bentley (the eminent 
London publisher) told me, he was prepared to offer to Mrs. Moore 
£4000 for her late husband's papers, as the foundation for his 
Biography, I had no hesitation in expressing to the Misses Power 
my conviction that, in the same ratio, the collection of letters in 
their possession could not be worth less than j6*500, for the same 
purpose. 

On the 25th May, 1852, 1 was informed that Lord John Russell 
had advised the acceptance of an offer made by Messrs. Longman 



VI INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

& Co., on condition of his Lordship undertaking to be the editor 
of Mr. Moore's papers, and the sum offered for which, (stated to 
have been £3000,) "with," adds Lord John Russell, "the small 
pension allowed by the crown," (£ 1 00 per annum,) " would enable 
Mrs. Moore to enjoy for the remainder of her life the moderate 
income which had latterly been the extent and limit of the yearly 
family expenditure.' , 

From copies of about twelve hundred letters, forwarded at Mrs. 
Moore's request, for Lord John Russell's information, fifty-seven 
only, as you correctly state in the advertisement, were selected and 
published by his Lordship, many with omissions, which I observe 
your editor has supplied. The copies of Moore's letters to Mr. 
Power, subsequent to 1818, were returned to his daughters with a 
few unnecessary blottings. All the original letters were then 
placed in my hands ; and after having carefully read them over 
and weeded them, to the best of my judgment, of letters con- 
taining offensive personalities, I had no hesitation in recommending 
their sale as autographs, with the view to a pecuniary division 
of property between two sisters. Some good judges estimating the 
value of a letter at sixpence, others being of opinion that five 
shillings each would be a fair average price, there was no other 
way of testing this difference of valuation than in determining the 
question by public sale. 

Accordingly, one thousand original letters and notes from 
Thomas Moore to Mr. Power, were sold " by Messrs. Puttick & 
Simpson, auctioneers of literary property, at their great room, 191, 
Piccadilly, on Thursday, June 23, 1853, and the following day." 
Their catalogue, which is now not to be procured, although eagerly 
sought after, appears to have been the foundation of your volume, 
and is very properly acknowledged as such. The additions made 
by the editor, and pointed out in the advertisement, add con- 
siderably to the interest of the work. Personally I cannot but 
feel highly flattered at the manner in which Mr. Moore is pleased 
to regard me in his conversation with my late valued friend, John 
O'Driscol. 

The British public seem to have read with regret " the Memoirs, 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. VH 

Journal and Correspondence of Thomas Moore, edited by the 
Right Honorable Lord John Russell," and complaints have been 
made of many painful and unfair paragraphs having been allowed 
to appear. Moore's autobiography of his boyhood, full of childish 
reminiscences, has been printed by the noble editor of the poet's 
remains without any attempt to explain or illustrate it. From 
documentary evidence, which could easily have been procured, it 
can be shown to be most unsatisfactory and deceptive — to use no 
harsher word, — which however may be applied to the narrative of 
Moore's foolish duel with Jeffrey in 1806, 

" When Little's leadless pistol met the eye." 

Four hundred carelessly arranged and not very judiciously se- 
lected letters, ranging in date from January, 1793, to 8th No- 
vember, 1818, follow this autobiographical fragment, among which 
letters is wedged in the account of this memorable duel ; and upon 
the whole, about twenty editorial notes, some of one word only, 
occur — perhaps altogether they may make forty lines, and are of 
little or no consequence. Moore's Diary follows, commencing on 
the 18th August, 1818, and occupies four 8vo. volumes and a half, 
terminating at an exceedingly odd date — not the close of the year 
1833, but the 31st October, 1833, for as odd a reason, because, 
" having reached a period of only twenty years from the present 
time," (i. e., the precise date on which the sixth volume* was com- 
mitted to the press,) the remaining portion of materials are to be 
employed with more reserve ; and announcing what the public had 
already discovered, that "the constant repetition of daily engage- 
ments becomes at length wearisome." Had these thoughts before 
occurred to the unreflecting editor of Moore's Diary, they might 
have saved some pangs to parties still living, who have been most 
wantonly assailed, and have judiciously reduced the length of 
admitted weariness to the reader. 

The passages which occur in Volume VI., and to which you call 
my attention, with reference to Mr. Power, are indeed not only 
painful and unfair, but the introduction of * * * twice over 
* The volumes referred to are those of the London edition. 



viii INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

furnishes inuendoes against the character of Moore's early patron 
and friend, which, even if true, should not have been allowed to 
appear ; and therefore the singular termination of the poet's Diary 
requires, as you observe, some explanation, as in this very gap of 
two months— November and December, 1833— was Mr. Power's 
conduct (of which Mr. Moore complains so strongly, and against 
which Lord John Russell allows insinuations to appear) most com- 
pletely and triumphantly vindicated. Why then close the Diary 
on the 31st of October, leaving a slur upon Mr. Power's name, 
which would not have been the case if the Diary had been conti- 
nued to the 31st December, and there was any truthfulness in it ? 

Your advertisement has echoed the popular soubriquet of 
"Honest James Power ;" and it will be for Lord John Russell to 
explain, if he can, why, after having published Moore's unfounded, 
pettish, and then virulent attacks upon his music publisher, he has 
not the moral courage to avow himself that they are unjust. And 
that publishers of Messrs. Longman's reputation, to whom the 
transaction must have been well known, could have lent themselves 
to the promulgation of a garbled statement, in deference to the 
judgment of any noble Lord, I confess, to me, is both matter of 
surprise and grief. Let them, however, to use the quaint phrase 
of their editor, enjoy the pleasure of " safe malignity" against the 
memory of a brother tradesman, who, when alive, was courted by 
them. 

In what I am about to state to you, in compliance with your 
request, truth and justice shall be my only guides towards the 
graves of departed individuals, where, I had hoped, all differences 
of opinion would have been allowed to repose, respecting a ques- 
tion of mere worldly dross. But as this has not been the case, 
the feelings of the resurrectionist who revives such memories 
must not be shocked at learning that the recollection of a father 
may be as dear to his children as the memory of a husband to his 
widow. 

If I mistake not, the semi-musical, semi-literary connection 
between the late Thomas Moore and James Power (the publisher 
of Moore's Irish Melodies) existed for thirty years. It com- 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. IX 

menced so far back as 1806, and the first number of that national 
work appeared in Dublin, in 1^07. The copyright of that number 
was purchased from Mr. Moore for £50 ; and so successful did 
the speculation prove to be, that Mr. Power and his brother soon 
afterwards entered into an agreement to pay Mr. Moore .£500 per 
annum, for seven years, to produce in each year another number 
of the Irish Melodies, with a few single songs in addition. The 
particulars which led to the temporary rupture between Mr. 
Power, after upwards of twenty-five years of the closest professed 
friendship on Moore's part, are well known to me. Power once 
said to me, after receiving an insulting letter from Moore — some- 
what irritated by its tone — "By G — , Mr. Croker, I am his 
banker, bill-acceptor, and fish-agent — letter-carrier, hotel-keeper, 
and publisher, and now he wants to make me his shoeblack. " 

Certainly, the impression conveyed by Lord John Russell's 
publication is not only an ungrateful return on the part of Moore 
towards his steady and constant benefactor, but it is equally erro- 
neous as to facts. It may be pleaded that a poet is not always 
bound to adhere to those e very-day common-place matters which 
form the regular occupation of the mere man of business ; how- 
ever, as I have been nearly all my life more of the latter than the 
former, and, as I have stated, had opportunities of knowing the 
details of this matter, in justice to the memory of Mr. Power, 
(and without communication with any of his family,) I feel it to 
be my duty at once to contradict to you the statements left on 
record by Mr. Moore, and it cannot be advanced, unguardedly 
published by Lord John Russell, who, as your editor is perfectly 
correct in stating, had the means afforded to him of testing facts, 
which his Lordship has only done by making serious omissions 
on the one side of the question. 

The circumstances to which I particularly refer, are briefly 
these : Moore having allowed the pecuniary debt due by him to 
Mr. Power, on the 1st of January, 1820, of half a crown, or 2s 6d, 
to creep up on the 1st of January, 1829, to the no inconsiderable 
sum to a tradesman, of 5b'1665 13s Id, for which advances I 
believe Mr. Power never charged him interest, and for security, 



X INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

held no other than the brains of the poet — Moore having reduced 
this large balance due to Mr. Power, in 1832, by about a£1000, 
suddenly wished to come to town for a settlement of his accounts. 
On the 27th Moore called on his music publisher. It was the 
morning after Moore's arrival in London; and on the 31st, as 
usual, made a convenience of Power's house by dining there, re- 
turning to supper, and leaving his son to sleep there. On the 
5th April, Moore thus records in his diary : 

" To Power's : having been urging him for my account ; in- 
deed, had written before I came to town to say that one of the 
chief objects of my coming was to see how our long-standing ac- 
counts stood, but he seems nervous and shy upon the subject." 

Now it may be safely asserted that no such letter was ever 
written by Moore to Power, from the perfect sequence of six let- 
ters written by the former in March, and all at present before me. 
Moore writes in his Diary between the 1st and 24th March : 

" Meant to have timed my visit to town (the chief object of 
which is the settlement of my accounts with Power) so as to be in 
town to attend St. Patrick's dinner." 

And that was his true object, and then and there to have an- 
nounced himself as the candidate for the representation of Lime- 
rick, as appears by Moore's letter to Power of 14th March : 

" I have had no formal requisition yet from Limerick, but I 
rather think they mean to tempt me. What they propose is, a 
subscription among the women of Ireland for the purpose, which 
would certainly be a very pretty way of doing the thing." 

Here it should be observed, that Mr. Power had not then 
received Mr. (now Sir Henry R.) Bishop's account for musical 
arrangement, part of which had to be- charged against Mr. Moore. 
This, Mr. Power distinctly told Mr. Moore in my presence, on the 
5th April, saying at the same time : " I fear, Mr. Moore, it may 
be more than either of us expect." Moore observed, that he did 
not care much about that, and inquired what was something like 
the actual amount of his debt 1 Mr. Power's reply was : ' k Why, 
I should say something about <£500." Moose's light-hearted 
remark was, " I can soon arrange that." And Mr. Power's re- 
spectful comment, " Certainly, Mr. Moore, when you please." 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. XI 

There had evidently been a misunderstanding of some kind 
between Mr. Power and Moore, before this meeting at which I 
was present, for on seeing Moore come into his shop, Mr. Power 
said to me in the back counting-house, where I happened to be 
chatting with him : "Don't go, Mr. Croker ; you may as well 
hear all about this bubble Limerick affair" — referring to Moore's 
letter of the 14th March ; and I know that Mr. Power considered 
it to be a very silly speculation on Moore's part, and that if 
he entered Parliament, his mind would be taken off from literary 
employment, which would probably plunge him into irretrievable 
difficulties. 

On the 29th, or in about three weeks after this conversation upon 
the account current between them, which extended over the space 
of fourteen years, (from 1818 to 1832,) Moore chronicles in his 
Diary that he received these long-standing accounts from Mr. 
Power ; but he adds — 

" Being busy, however, did not look into them till— 

11 May 1st. — Glanced my eye hastily over the balance against 
me, [which it may be stated, was <g£534 : : 10,] and was some- 
what startled by its amount ; but on looking through some of the 
items, saw such regularity and (as I thought) fairness in them, 
that I concluded all was right, and wrote to Power to say so, 
adding in my simplicity, that I flattered myself, never were ac- 
counts of so long a standing settled so smoothly and amicably as 
ours would be." 

The actual words of Mr, Moore's letter of 2d May, 1832, to 
Mr. Power, are — 

" The state of our account is pretty much what I expected, 
and nothing could be kept more correctly and regularly ; though 
I knew the balance would be about what it is, the sight of it in 
figures startles me ; I must, however, work to get it down." 

The entries made in Moore's Diary under date 4th and fith 
May, contain serious charges against Power, and what is infinitely 
worse, a suppressed passage indicated by * * * from the 
Editor, (who thereby, not having been over-scrupulous about 
what he had before published,) leaves the worst to the imagi- 
nation. It is necessary for me to quote the passages at length, 



XU INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

with a view to their perfect refutation, except where no clue has 
been afforded to what Moore might have called " the starry mind" 
of his Editor ; for poor Moore had long before sent his good 
genius (typified by the common sense of Power) wandering 
upon a moonlight night, to get on as well as he could. Pro- 
phetically did Moore write of his evil genius, who plunges into 
the torrent as he 

— " idly gazed 

On each night- cloud o'er him : 
While I touch the string, 

Wreathe my brows with laurel ; 
For the tale I sing 

Has, for once, a moral." 

Which moral should be, in my opinion, the correction of the wish 
expressed in Moore's Diary, (vol. ii. p. 151,) that "every literary 
man would write his own memoirs," into, " I wish no literary man 
would write his own memoirs, and in an evil hour leave it in the 
power of genius to unmask his character and destroy all respect 
for it" Sooner let such cold-hearted genius shiver and perish on 
the muddy bank of the stream of Time. 

"May 4<th. — Took the opportunity of a leisure moment to look 
more accurately over Power's accounts, and found, to my con- 
sideration, that they are any thing but what I had supposed. 
. . Wrote to him that in looking over his accounts, I had found 
what must, I thought, be a mistake ; namely, his charges against 
me during several years for the (.£125) of an annuity which, it 
appears, he paid to Mr. Bishop, and the whole of the large sums 
charged by Mr. Bishop for the compositions and arrangements to 
my songs ; that it was very true I had assented to a deduction of 
^650 annually from the 36500 that had been for some years paid 
to me, as an aid towards defraying the expense of the composer, 
but that I had never, by word or writing, consented to any fur- 
ther reduction of my stipulated annuity, nor had he himself ever 
even hinted to me his intention of making such a reduction, and 
therefore his bringing such charges against me now must be an 
entire mistake." 

" 6th. — A smooth answer from Power, saying that it was no 
mistake ; that having informed me at the time what was the an- 
nuity he was about to give Bishop, he ' concluded ' that I would 
not consider it too much to pay the half of it. ' Concluded ' 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. Xlll 

indeed ! Not the slightest notice does he take of the actual fact 
that I never assented, in word or writing, to any other reduction 
of my annuity than 5850, which was agreed on between us. In- 
stead of which, he has now mounted up charges little short of 
.£150 toae'2u0 each year." 

This assertion on the part of Moore is not correct. While he 
declaims like Shylock, " I will have my bond, " Mr. Power mod- 
estly pleads " lex Mercatoris" — established custom and "silence 
gives consent." 

The facts may be briefly summed up. Moore, after fourteen 
years of procrastination in facing pecuniary difficulties, through 
which Power helped him to flounder creditably, takes courage to 
look into them, after three days' consideration. He then fancies 
that he discovers an improper charge in the long standing over 
accounts, by an annual payment made to Bishop for doing what 
Moore himself was unable to perform, or at least did not do ; 
namely, the arrangement of the symphonies and accompani- 
ments to his words and preparing the music for press. Upon all 
these points, Moore was exceedingly particular. 

On the 6th, or in due course, Moore receives a "common sense" 
letter — what he calls "a smooth answer from Power," saying 
that there was no mistake in his accounts. Nor was there any. 
At which Moore, who further fancies himself seated as M. P. for 
Limerick, with a landed qualification from the beautiful lips of 
Ireland, becomes indignant, and directly changes his tone of 
address towards a tradesman in the Strand from " My dear Sir " 
into " Dear Sir." 

From May to October, a correspondence occurs between Moore 
and Mr. Power which I have been permitted to see — at least, the 
letters of the former. It is not of an agreeable character, as 
Moore appears to identify him with his hero, Tom Cribb, and 
commences sparring at Power and his (common-sense genius's) 
power over a literary man, whose head has been turned by the 
offer of s£500 a year from Marryat, (Memoirs, vol. vi. p. 275) 
and a thousand guineas from Harding, (vol. v. p. 269,) not ten 
weeks previously, with the prospect of writing M. P. after his 



XIV INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

name as representative of indignant " Limerick of the treaty " or 
" Cashel of Munster." Let me pass over all this as briefly as 
possible ; which might have turned astray from the path of honor 
and duty a less imaginative head than was elevated by nature or 
education upon the shoulders of Thomas Moore. 

Moore candidly acknowledges that he is by no means insensible 
to Mr. Power's courtesies "in not pressing rigidly the ' due per- 
formance' of our deed." " But allow me," he proceeds, " to remind 
you that I have so far gone beyond what I engaged to perform, 
as in two instances, instead of confining myself to the stipulated 
number of songs, to have given you poems of considerable length, 
[alluding to the " Summer Fete" and " Evenings in Greece,"] 
which, whatever may be the success or failure of the name con- 
nected with them, will, as you well know, be property, as literary 
works, so long as any thing I have ever written shall endure." 

What a specimen of a head inflated with the intoxicating gas 
of vanity! and so "up it goes," soaring through a cloud of 
mystification in the following passage, to the eyes of any reason- 
able publisher of modern times, who at this period was sustaining 
heavy losses by the publication of Mr. Moore's works. In fact, 
to nearly such an extent had Mr. Power experienced losses 
through Mr. Moore's reckless conduct, that Power, after he him- 
self had put up the shutters of his shop in the Strand, lamented 
to me Mr. Moore's speculative ideas, and said (literally tc with 
tears in his eyes," to use Moore's words,) that he feared 
he should be ruined by them. He only desired to have more 
Irish Melodies, which he could sell, and not poetry, brought out 
in an expensive form which remained on his shelves. " For," said 
he, " ' Butterfly Balls,' like the ' Summer Fete ' and slow ' Even- 
ings in Greece,' are heavy works to publish with scarcely an 
expectation of the expense of the production being repaid. I do 
not want such literary efforts. I want Irish Melodies or simple 
ballads, (like the Woodpecker Tapping or Canadian Boat Song) 
which will sell and leave me a profit to enable me to pay Mr. 
Moore his annuity under our deed." These were Mr. Power's 
words ; how different was Moore's estimate of his own value in 
t>ie market ! 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. XV 

" Had you," he writes, " taken into consideration this extra 
effort of mine, and added to my remuneration [what charming 
simplicity !] in consequence, I should undoubtedly have thought 
such an act liberal ; but from the language I have always heard 
you hold on such points, I should not have been surprised at it. 
When, on the contrary, however, I find the very reverse of all 
this has taken place — when I find that, knowing as you do the 
sums of money 1 can command for my writings, and that I have 
at this very moment the offer of a thousand pounds for a poem 
not longer than the Summer Fete— when I see that, knowing all 
this, you yet think it ' equitable' to reduce by charges (none of 
them before announced or specified to me) the sum that in bare 
justice I should have had for the poems, to a pittance of not so 
much as four hundred pounds each — I confess that I am sur- 
prised, and that a new view of your notions of ' equitableness' 
breaks in upon me, of which I had before no conception. In 
truth, you could not have had a stronger proof of my entire 
reliance on your fairness, than my writing off to say I was per- 
fectly satisfied with your account, when I had not, I am ashamed 
to say, done more than glance at a few items of it." 

Moore, having worked himself up into a heat, determines to 
come down from his elevation as coolly as he can, practically 
illustrating Curran's famous joke about Kouli Khan, after having 
spoiled in his Diary some of Curran's best Irish pleasantries with 
those of other wits, which the honourable editor considers not only 
worthy of being retained, but of explanation ! 

" As I have here," concludes Mr. Moore to Mr. Power, 
" stated to you quietly all that I think on this matter, (what I 
feel would take far other language to express it,) this is the last 
letter I shall think it necessary to write on the subject. I shall 
proceed, at my leisure, to finish such things as are incomplete; 
and shall forward them to you as I do them. 

" Yours truly, Thomas Moore." 

The extracts from this letter appear to be very cool indeed m 
" Proceed at my leisure" to pay off a debt of a thousand pounds 
to a tradesman, who holds no security for the fulfilment of the 
promise ! In the first place, Mr. Power did not want from Mr. 
Moore long poems elaborately constructed. He wanted only 
simple melodies, or ballads, likely to become popular. For the 
former he had, comparatively speaking, no sale ; for the latter, 



XVI INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

an extensive one ; perhaps at the time, the most extensive sale for 
works of this class of any music publisher in London. A single 
song, if it became popular, was a property ; if a failure, or it did 
not sell, a loss of no great consequence ; but Moore, who from 
his cradle to his grave was an actor, felt ambitious that he or his 
work should monopolize the attention of an audience for a whole 
evening, and hence the operatic construction of his " Summer 
Fete," and " Evenings in Greece," intended for the drawing- 
room. But he forgot to inquire where the actors were to be 
found in private circles, whose performance, after being once 
or twice listened to with indulgence, any intellectual drawing- 
room assembly would for hours endure the repetition of. The 
sale of both works was consequently limited, and the production 
of Mr. Moore's long poems connected with music, however he 
might have estimated their value, proved to be anything but of 
advantage to the publisher. 

Moore has the grace to acknowledge Mr. Power's forbearance 
with respect to " our deed." He then proceeds, without further 
reference to the matter, to laud his own liberality, by which Mr. 
Power was so serious a loser, and therefore asks — indeed, nearly 
demands — an increase of pay upon what already must be con- 
sidered a most liberal stipend. This is cool. Moore next goes 
on to insult Mr. Power by the mention of a " pittance" of not so 
much as s6800 for superfluous matter under " our deed," by 
which no superfluous matter was required, and being then in Mr. 
Power's debt upwards of £500 under that deed. Now, for the 
cool finale : Moore winds up by a statement to his best benefactor 
and steady friend in his difficulties and emergencies, that he shall 
proceed at leisure to pay off this little debt, by completing work 
that ought to have been long before performed and delivered. 
The bad taste, and worse feeling, of ingratitude displayed in this 
letter, attempting to vindicate a breach of contract, or rather 
breaches of contract, require no comment here. 

So long previous to this as the 26th November, 1818, Moore 
mentions in his Diary " having called upon Power, and mustered 
up courage enough to tell him that I could not take less than the 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. XVII 

clear £500 a year in our future agreement, without any deduc- 
tions, such as had been made before for the arrangement of my 
music; left him to consider of it." And so was off for Holland 
House. On the 24th January, 1819, Power arrives at Sloperton 
Cottage, and acquaints Moore that Bishop is the person he thinks 
of for arranging Moore's music in future, who, next to Stevenson, 
Moore prefers. On the following morning they enter into the 
business of the renewal of their agreement. 

" He [Power] at first did not seem quite willing to consent to 
giving the full 5g500 a year, but expressed something like a hope 
that 1 would contribute towards paying the arranger of the music. 
However, on my saying it would be better, perhaps, to let the 
whole matter lie over till some other time, he professed himself 
quite ready to come into my terms. I accordingly signed the 
draught of a deed he had brought with him for a clear £500, 
and then told him he might be very sure I would not allow it to 
press heavily upon him ; as, though I wished to gain my point of 
having the round sum of £500, (without the deduction of £50, 
which he had before made for arranging,) yet if he found Bishop's 
terms for undertaking the musical part at all extravagant, I should 
not be backward in giving my former share towards the expense.* 
Two or three things he said during our conversation annoyed me 
a good deal : among others, when I proposed that, if he felt any 
dislike to a renewal of the agreement (which I was not at all anxious 
for), I might remain free, and merely give him the preference in 
the purchase of anything I wrote, he said : ' You know, as to that, 
I might constrain you to give them to me, as I have your promise 
in one of your letters to go on to a tenth number of "Irish Melo- 
dies" with me/ This readiness to take advantage of a mere 
castle-building promise, made in the confidential carelessness of a 
letter, did not look well ; however, upon my saying as much, he 
disclaimed all such intention, and said I should never find him 
other than he had been." 

Here Moore records the most perfect justification of Mr. 
Power's conduct that can be conceived, and stultifies himself sub- 
sequently. 

Moore being aware that Power was particularly anxious to have, 

* Viz. : half. Sir John Stevenson's charge was £100. Sir Henry R. 
Bishop's, £250. 



XV1U INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

instead of unsaleable songs or poetry, the final or tenth number 
of the Irish Melodies, which the poet had most unjustifiably 
withheld, on the plea of the want of suitable airs, for no less than 
twelve years (1818-1830), having acknowledged in a note upon 
the advertisement to the seventh number of that national work, 
the receipt from myself alone of nearly " forty ancient airs," — to 
some of which he has written words, as have also Lover and"Bayley, 
most acceptably, and feeling that his former letter had not induced 
" Honest James Power" to alter his accounts, assumes another 
attitude, and threatens again, on the 1st August, 1832, in a change 
of tone : 

" With respect to a future number (or numbers, for my stock 
of airs is now considerable) of Irish Melodies, it will be time 
enough to talk on that subject when our present accounts are 
settled to my satisfaction." 

And the speculative character of Moore referred to, is illustrated 
by the following P.S. to his letter : 

" Among the things I left in your hands in contemplation of a 
Miscellany, (now long since given up,) there are, I believe, two 
or three translations from Catullus which I wish you to send me." 

Mr. Power in a feeling of conscious rectitude, stood firm to his 
accounts. And so Moore's tone becomes more subdued. On the 
20th of August, when returning some proof-sheets, he writes to 
Mr. Power : 

" We shall be very glad to see you whenever you may find it 
convenient to come : but I must repeat that until the very extra- 
ordinary* account you have made out against me shall have been 
settled between us, my agreeing to undertake any new work for 
you is wholly out of the question. Your note leads me to hope 
that a satisfactory settlement will take place, in which case you 
will find me most ready to resume a connection, the interruption 
of which has, I feel, arisen from no fault or default of mine." 

It is quite unnecessary to pursue this correspondence further, 
or to comment upon the last sentence quoted as coming from the 
pen of one who had been, whether owing to his own fault or the 
fault of others, a defaulter throughout the greater portion of his 
life. That unjust feelings of hostility were rankling against Mr. 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. XIX 

Power in the breast of Moore, is evident from his Diary, as most 
inexcusably published by Lord John Russell, to whom the oppor- 
tunity of knowing all the circumstances of the case had been 
afforded. 

In the October subsequent to August, 1832, Moore came to 
London, where, after nearly a week's disporting himself, he falls 
in with the poet Campbell, and takes him as a kind of witness to 
call at Power's, heartlessly recording respecting his best, his 
steadiest, and most sincere friend —"my first visit to that gentleman 
since I have been in town." Moore, however, had called at the shop 
of " that gentleman" on the previous day, when he learned that 
Mr. Power was confined to his bed at his private residence by 
illness ; and yet, though that private residence was not one minute's 
walk, (from 34, Strand to 22, Buckingham Street,) that minute 
appears to have been so precions to the flutter of Mr. Moore 
through the metropolis, as not to allow him time to perform the 
ordinary act of courtesy from a " gentleman " towards a tradesman, 
by inquiring after Mr. Power and leaving his card. If a Lord had 
been in the case, Moore's conduct would probably have been very 
different. 

The 14th of October appears to have been the day of Moore's 
call at the shop, and whether Mr. Power was found there or in his 
bed-room by Messrs. Moore and Campbell, cannot be decidedly 
stated from the Diary of the former. However, they " staid but 
a few minutes." 

The shop was that in which Moore had formerly been so anxious 
to be admitted as a junior partner ; and he probably might have been 
so, had not the sagacity of James Power foreseen that habits so 
vainglorious, so reckless and unbusiness-like as those of Moore, 
would soon have ruined the concern. Had the partnership taken 
place, which luckily for Mr. Power it did not, it is impossible to 
conceive a more unsatisfactory or vexatious partner than Moore 
would have proved himself to be, notwithstanding the poet's pro- 
mise to put annually a thousand pounds' worth of brains into the 
stock, instead of subtracting £500 from it. 

Moore's Diary, if closely tested by dates, facts, and circum- 

b 2 



XX INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

stances, exhibits the most lamentable confusion of mind and 
memory. But I am not going to revert to melancholy recollections, 
nor to enter into too minute particulars to prove this : on the con- 
trary, I would, if I could, appear as Moore's friendly apologist. 

Let us now enter a new year, (1833,) upon which dawns the 
hope of a reconciliation between Moore and Power. The latter, 
however, still maintains the correctness of his accounts, and the 
year opens gloomily enough upon poor Moore. The supplies are 
stopped from that quarter and another source, (a periodical edited 
by Captain Marryat.) Neither Harding's ^£1000 nor Heath's 
£ 1000 were forthcoming, and on the 1st of January Moore makes 
the following entry in his Diary : 

" Had been for some days in correspondence with Lardner re- 
specting my Irish History, which I am now about to resume in 
earnest : and my resources from Power no longer going on, and 
my supplies from the ' Metropolitan ' being now at an end, I found 
it necessary to request of him an advance of money on the work." 

Of course. So, on the 1 7th February, Moore writes to his 
"Dear Sir," the following note, in which, however attempted to 
be disguised, the cringing feelings of a subdued spirit, unwilling 
to acknowledge itself to be in the wrong, peep out in every sen- 
tence. Moore, who on the 13th of the previous October, could 
not afford one minute to inquire personally after Mr. Power's 
health, now commences, 

" I am very glad to hear that you are so much better. I have 
been, indeed, for some days past intending to write you to say that 
I expected to be up in town about the beginning of next week, and 
that I look to our then settling our accounts satisfactorily. All I 
shall now say of them is that, as they stand at present, they ex- 
hibit an instance of sharp dealing (to give it no harsher name) 
which exceeds all I have ever experienced in my connection with 
men of business, and in comparison with which all you have some- 
times heard me complain of from your brother and from Carpenter* 

* And yet Moore's statement (22d September, 1803) with regard to Car- 
penter is, (Vol. I. p. 135 :) " My dear father should write to Carpenter and 
thank him for the very friendly assistance he has given me. Without that 
assistance the breeze would be fair in vain for me, and Bermuda might be sunk 
in the deep, for any share that 1 could pretend to in it," &c. 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. XXI 

not only fades into insignificance, but actually appears fair and 
liberal. Having thus, once for all, expressed my opinion of the 
present state of the transaction between us, I shall not write or 
utter another harsh word on the subject till I shall have seen 
whether you yourself consider the matter in the way that is alone 
worthy of you, and about which, believe me, there could not be 
two ©pinions among men of fair and honourable minds." 

Here let me interrupt the current of this letter by observing 
that there certainly were " not two opinions among men of fair 
and honourable minds ; " so far Moore was right, but their opinion 
was adverse to Moore's judgment. He thus continues to Mr. 
Power : 

" I need not tell you (for I have often repeated it to you) that it 
has always been my intention to go on with you as my publisher, 
as long as I cared to write or as you cared to publish what I 
wrote. But this intention was of course founded upon my con- 
fidence that you would go on as you commenced, and not ■ 

but I have said that I would not any more give way to what I feel 
on the subject, nor will I. 

"I have two works already on the anvil— the tenth numbeivof 
the Irish Melodies, and a collection from the Latin Anthology. 
In the warm hope that all will yet be right between us, I again 
sign myself, 

" Very truly yours, Thomas Moore." 

On Wednesday, the 6th March, Moore arrives in town, but 
professes to be so much engaged (his Diary will show how) that he 
can only admit Mr. Power, whose purse is really of so much con- 
sequence to him, to an audience after Sunday, and then only by 
special appointment. " I have every hope," writes Mr. Moore, 
" that we shall come to an amicable understanding together." 
But he still doggedly continues to assert that Mr. Power and his 
accounts are wrong, and that he should have paid him & 1 00 a 
vear more than he was fairly entitled to, (as the sequel will show,) 
or at the clear rate of £450, if not .£500 per annum. He strongly 
urges this conclusion upon Mr. Power, as it would " at once 
place us where we were, both in friendship and business." Then 
comes the threat : " If, however, you should unfortunately persist 
in your own view of the transaction, I must then only consult 



XX11 INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

with my friends (of whom but one at present knows any thing 
about the matter) as to what steps I had best take." On the 
17th March, (an ominous day when Irish harmony is in question,) 
Moore evidently becomes uneasy at what he regards to be Mr. 
Power's obstinacy, and, coupled with a request to send a copy of 
the letter-press of the Irish Melodies to Mr. O'Connell, " as he is 
in want of some mottoes for his letters from them," goes so far as 
to admit that " it is just possible that in a business point of view " 
he may be mistaken, and purposes to leave their differences to 
arbitration, naming either Mr. Longman or Mr. Rogers on his 
part, or leaving Mr. Power to name both arbitrators. To this 
proposal Mr. Power promptly assented, as well as to both the 
arbitrators named by Moore : but instead of Mr. Longman, his 
partner, Mr. Rees, agreed to act on behalf of Mr. Power. 

To save his time, Mr. Power left with Mr. Rees documents upon 
which the arbitration was to be founded, to look over ; and ac- 
cording to Moore's statement, both Messrs. Longman and Rees 
said, that Power " had not, as they expressed it, l a leg to stand 
on ;' " and adds Mr. Moore, in his Diary — " In consequence of 
finding the case so bad, it was Rees's intention to decline being 
arbitrator ; but I suggested it would be advisable to state at the 
same time his reasons for so declining, as it might have the effect 
of making Power think a little more seriously on the subject." 

Now this suggestion, as recorded by himself with a view to 
prejudice an arbitration, was not only impertinent, but most im- 
proper on the part of Mr. Moore. The fact, however, is the very 
reverse of what Moore has stated in his Diary, and that after 
looking over the documents confided by Mr. Power to Mr. Rees, 
the latter said that he " must decline to act in the matter, as Mr. 
Moore had not a leg to stand upon ; and that it would be pain- 
ful for him to urge an adverse decision upon any claim, however 
fanciful, set up by Mr. Moore, considering his connection with the 
publishing-house in which he (Mr. Rees) was a partner. 

On the 27th March, Mr. Moore told Mr. Rogers, that Mr. Rees 
had declined acting as an arbitrator, adding : " Nothing, Rogers 
thought, could be more injudicious and mischievous to me than 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. xx iii 

this step. Rees ought to have refused looking at my papers till 
they were laid before him and Rogers together, when they mio-ht 
have secured a settlement ; but now, by defeating thus the pros- 
pect of an amicable arrangement, he has thrown the whole thino- 
adrift, and left no other alternative but law. This I felt to be 
but too true. * * *" 

What do these * * * mean ? is not an unfair question ; 
and " my papers ?" What ! — an advocate not look over his client's 
brief before he went into Court to plead his cause ? Certainly 
such things have occurred, but Mr. Rees was not a member of 
the bar, 

" Who would by every commonplace 
Make wrong the right or better case." 

No ; he was like Mr. Power himself, a plain-spoken, fair-dealing 
tradesman, who lived respected and died regretted. 

" My papers" indeed! why, Mr. Moore's own Diary, on the 
very opposite page, without one word as to his verbal ex parte 
statements, shows " that Power had been with Rees in the morn- 
ing, and left him our deeds of agreement and some extracts 
from my letters to look over." I should like to know what title 
Mr. Moore had to call these documents his papers ! — papers to 
be considered in an issue between Moore versus Power, and to be 
merely used in self-defence by the latter, from the accusation of 
an overcharge of 36500 in his accounts ! 

On the 4th of April, 1833, Moore records in his Diary, " Visit 
from Power ;" adding, that he " was soon made sensible of the 
great injury Rees had done me by declining the arbitration, and 
declining it too, in such a way as to leave Power still under the 
impression that there was nothing beyond the mere ordinary 
course of business in his conduct to me. * # **' 

Here these mysterious and mischievous inuendoes occur again. 
If the passage was worth giving at all, why leave its meaning 
doubtful ? Why should not an editorial note abridge or explain 
the circumstances — the result of the interview, or that the MS. 
was torn or blotted, or could not be deciphered ? No, it stands 
as left by the hand of Lord John Russell, a worse than " malig- 



XXIV INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

nant" attack— an unexplained insinuation against the conduct 
of Moore's steadiest and unveering friend, "Honest James 
Power." 

If Mr. Rees had told Mr. Power that he " had not a leg to 
stand upon," (as asserted by Mr. Moore), why should Power have 
run himself into the risk of threatened law proceedings ? He had 
already suffered severely in pocket from Moore's duplicity by law 
charges. And the effect of this proposed arbitration having so 
far failed by the withdrawal of Mr. Rees, it was determined that 
another arbitrator should be named in his place with Mr. Rogers, 
and that if I would accept the unpleasant office, I was to be the 
party to act for Mr. Power: but circumstances prevented our 
arbitration taking place ; and I will here only venture to repeat 
that Mr. Rees's opinion was, that " Moore had not a leg to stand 
upon," exacthj the contrary to what Moore has stated, as will be 
presently established by the decision of two barristers, one of whom 
I am happy to say survives, and may be appealed to, if necessary, 
as to the accuracy of the following statement —Mr. Serjeant 
Merewether, who was Moore's arbitrator, and from whom I first 
learned that Moore had kept a diary chronicling the gossip of the 
day. 

After this interview of 4th April, between Moore and Power» 
the latter called on me and asked me if I would have any objec- 
tion to act on his (Power's) part in a little dispute about a small 
sum of money of no great consequence between Mr. Moore and 
himself. To this my answer was, " Certainly not ;" adding, how- 
ever, that " I should like to know something more of the parti- 
culars." When Mr. Power named Mr. Rogers as the party pro" 
posed by Mr. Moore in an amicable arbitration, I did not hesitate 
to assent, and a few evenings afterwards I was allowed by Mr. 
Power to inspect his books for a series of years with reference 
to the subject. 

I found that for fourteen years Mr. Power had regularly cre- 
dited Mr. Moore with ^£500, under the simple entry of " By an- 
nuity," without charging, so far as I recollect, interest upon his 
advances, which were on the 1st January 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 



XXV 



56102 11 11 


1826 


# # 


— 2 6 


1827 




201 18 1 


1828 


. 


504 6 6 


1829 


. 


586 3 8 


1830 


. . 


842 19 9 


1831 


. 


1134 7 10 


1832 


> • • 



£1233 


6 


11 


. 1496 


11 


10 


. 1547 


]2 


8 


. 1665 


13 


1 


. 96o 


12 


4 


. 814 


12 


10 


. 534 





10 



1819 
lb20 
1821 
1822 
1823 
1824 
1825 



On the 3 1 st December, 1 828, Moore wrote to Mr. Power — 
" To have you so much in advance to me without any set-off in 
my work, is a very uncomfortable feeling to me, whatever your 
good-nature may make it to you." 

Moore's work, covenanted to be performed for this annuity, was 
always much in arrear, or in such a crude and sketchy state as to 
be useless to Mr. Power, whose loss by the delay in the produc- 
tion must have been considerable. There is an old adage that 
" short accounts make long friends," but Moore thought other- 
wise ; and long accounts appear to him to have been more agree- 
able with his music publisher, when, in 1828 and 1829, Moore 
could not but have been aware that he was upwards of £1 500 in M r. 
Power's debt ; or to use Moore's admirable sentence with reference 
to Sheridan, written about this period, (and which truly explains 
Moore's own pecuniary situation,) he had attained " that happy 
art in which the people of this country are such adepts, of putting 
the future in pawn for the supply of the present." 

Mr. Power's declaration was, that with a young and growing 
family, he felt glad to get any thing from Moore, as a kind of se- 
curity for this heavy advance over and above his annual payments 
of 36500, but that he never could induce Mr. Moore to come to a 
settlement, as, whenever the subject of their "reckoning" was 
mentioned, he was " always in a flutter after Lords, Ladies, and 
Lobsters." 

Power's accounts showed at a glance that he had always acted 
in the most liberal spirit towards Moore, as charges for music, 
binding, stationery, books, and other similar items, although entered 
in Power's Petty Cash Account at what is called "the trade" (or 
a reduced) price, were often struck out, and sometimes the amount 



XXVI INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

was considerable ; — at least this is my impression. I had there- 
fore no hesitation in expressing in writing to Mr. Power my candid 
opinion that, from what I had seen, I did not think that Mr. Moore 
ought to resist or dispute a balance of j6500 against him, in so 
liberal an account current ; for even admitting that more than one 
charge was wrong, they were balanced or nearly so upon the whole 
by no calculation of interest upon money in advance being brought 
to account, as well as by the deductions from the Petty Cash Book ; 
and Moore could, if he pleased, in the course of the next year or 
two, easily clear oif this balance against him by sixteen or twenty 
songs in a state fit for publication. And therefore that according 
to my feeling there need be little dispute or arbitration about the 
matter. 

From the documents which I had looked over, it appeared 
clear to me that Moore was bound to furnish to Mr. Power a 
certain number of lyrics (sixteen, I think, of course in a proper 
state for the press) for his annuity of £500 ; but being unable to 
do this without calling in professional assistance, he directly sanc- 
tioned a payment or deduction from the annuity to Sir John Steven- 
son of ^650 for his musical arrangements ; because Sir John wisely 
selected the brothers Power to be his paymaster of 56100 a year, 
in preference to drawing upon, or " flying kites," as it was then 
called, with Thomas Moore. And thus did this charge creep into 
the accounts of Mr. Power for musical arrangements, reducing 
Moore's annuity to a£450. This is acknowledged by Moore. 

Stevenson having failed, as Moore did (perhaps in consequence), 
to execute his work within anything like the stipulated time, 
Moore, whose fine musical ear and fastidious taste no one can 
doubt, was left at liberty to select another •« musical arranger," 
and his choice fell upon Sir Henry Bishop ; who however con- 
sidered £250 per annum, instead of .£100, to be nearer his 
marketable value for the performance of the work required of him 
by Mr. Moore and Power ; towards this Mr. Power contributed 
his half, charging the other against Mr. Moore. But let us revert 
to previous circumstances. 

Moore, in his letter of 10th April, 1813, to Mr. Power, says 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. XX Ml 

that he would give Sir John Stevenson one of his hundreds to get 
him fixed with him. This shows that he was willing to pay, 
twenty years previously to his dispute with his publisher, more 
than .£50 per annum to arrange his lyrical compositions, for the 
arranger suited his taste. 

Mr. Moore even never objected to an additional sum charged 
against him on the 9th August, 1816, for Sir John Stevenson's 
compositions of five sacred songs, viz., £41 : 13 : 4. This alone 
is a proof that Moore always considered himself to be liable for 
such charges in proportion to the annuity, exclusive of the charge 
for arrangement. 

In letter of 29th August, 1818, Mr. Moore says that in justice 
to Mr. Power his works " must be put into a finished state by 
some one." He also says : " You can hardly fix upon any com- 
poser for the purpose till I am on the spot to consult with you." 
A proof that Bishop would not have been employed on Moore's 
works without his advice and consent. 

In letter of 23rd December, 1818, Moore says that he has 
written to Stevenson to know if he means to finish his works, as, 
if he will not do them off hand, he (Mr. Moore) must get some- 
body else to do them. This shows that Mr. Moore considered 
himself as employing his own arranger and composer. 

On the 18th January, 1819, Moore stated by letter to Mr. 
Power, that the account furnished to December was " highly satis- 
factory," and made no objection to the sum of 3641 : 13: 4 
charged by Sir John Stevenson for composing five sacred songs — 
making the annual payment to him 5691 : 13 : 4. And yet, in 
the face of this fact, Mr. Moore has the audacity to write to Mr. 
Power, on the 8th May, 1832, " I but require you to adhere to 
the terms on which we first commenced, with the simple excep- 
tion of the 5650 a year deducted from my annuity to pay the 
arranger, which is the only deviation from our original terms that 
either you ever proposed, or that I, either by word or writing, 
ever consented to." 

After this strange lapse of memory, who can believe any state- 
ment made by Mr. Moore ? 

Moore's letters to Mr. Power of 16th and 22nd July, 1823, 



XXV111 INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

January, 1824, and 17th April, 1829, establish the fact that 
Moore employed Bishop to compose music to his words, and of 
course bound himself to pay for those compositions he had thus 
ordered, however willing to transfer his debt to the shoulders of 
his pecuniary Atlas, Mr. Power. 

Indeed, all this appeared so obvious to me, that I stated to Mr. 
Power my conviction that, without any arbitration being necessary, 
if the matter was put in its proper light before Mr. Moore by any 
mutual friend, he could not fail to be convinced of the erroneous 
view he had taken of his case with Mr. Power, both in honour 
and in equity. And I drew up a short statement, of which some 
parts have been used in the present letter. But Mr. Moore was 
not to be convinced, and he went about making representations of 
his supposed grievance, which no doubt he made appear to be a 
real one to many, by the suppression of facts. 

Early in August, Moore appeared again in London, and returned 
to his old charge about the accounts by addressing the following 
somewhat taunting letter to Mr. Power : 

" Brooks's, August 8, 1833. 

" Dear Sir : — Until the main point of difference between us, — 
that of the charges for arrangement which you have (so entirely 
at your own discretion and without even asking my assent) brought 
against me, — until this important point has been settled in the 
way that not only myself, but all the friends I have consulted upon 
the subject think fair and honest, you must excuse my declining to 
enter into those details on which you ask for my reply. 

" Mr, Bees informs me that since I was last in town, he pro- 
fessed to you his readiness to undertake the arbitration which he 
had before declined ; but that you did not seem disposed to ac- 
cept the offer. J also, you will recollect, went so far (much too 
far, in the opinion of some of my friends) as to beg that you your- 
self would appoint any two persons whatever to decide between us, 
and I would most willingly abide by their decision. What would 
you think of the fairness of the man that declines such a propo- 
sal ? I know, at least, what in former times you would have said 
of him. 

"Yours, &c. Thomas Moore." 

As I had not given my refusal to act with Mr. Bogers as an 
arbitrator in this, as it appeared to me, most unnecessary dispute, 
Mr. Power had naturally and most honourably hesitated for the 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. XXIX 

second time accepting the services of Mr. Rees, of whose opinion 
he was aware, in the adjustment of a very simple question, whether 
Moore was entitled to receive ,£450 per annum, positively claimed 
by him, or ^63 50, the difference having been paid to Bishop, 
instead of Stevenson, for performing Moore's work. This state- 
ment of the case has been repeated, for we are now about to come 
rapidly to the conclusion of these unhappy differences, and to show 
how completely Mr. Power was right, and how vexatiously Mr. 
Moore was wrong. Even the loss of the "pittance " of £'350 per 
annum, for no very great amount of labour, (sixteen songs,) Mr. 
Moore does not appear to have, been very anxious to abandon. 
And so he writes to Mr. Power : 

" Brookes's, Nov. 3. 

" Dear Sir : — Having brought up to town some musical works 
for publication, I am unwilling to take any steps in the matter till 
I shall have heard from you on the subject of our accounts, and 
learned whether you are inclined to bring them to a fair and 
equitable settlement ; my opinion of the statement you have 
already furnished me with is so well known to you, that I need 
add nothing more, than that I am 

" Yours, &c, Thomas Moore." 

"You will have the goodness to address your answer as above." 

Of course Mr. Power did so ; and the result was, the appoint- 
ment of the late Mr. Horace Twiss (M.P. and Under-Secretary 
of State for the Colonies) as the arbitrator on his part, and on 
that of Mr. Moore, Mr. Serjeant Merewether, (now Town Clerk of 
the city of London,) with, of course, the choice of an umpire. 
This agreement to refer to arbitration is dated 14 th November, 
1 833, upon a stamp of thirty-five shillings, and was drawn up by 
Messrs. Clarke and Fynmore, the award to be made on or before 
the 21st December, or, in case an umpire was necessary on or 
before 21st January, 1834. 

It was soon followed up by the choice of an umpire in 
" Power and Moore. 

" We concur in requesting the favour of Sir George Rose to act 
as umpire between us in the event of any difference arising. 
(Signed,) " Horace Twiss, 

" Dec. 3, 1833." " Hy. Alworth Merewether. 



XXX INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 

" I am perfectly willing to act as umpire in the event sug- 
gested. (Signed,) "G.Rose." 

There was no occasion however, for any reference to an umpire, 
as the following document will prove : 

" Park Place, St. James' street, 

December \7th, 1833. 

" Every thing to rest as it is between the parties, except (as 
hereafter mentioned,) both with respect to the accounts and works. 

" Mr. Power to deliver up the Musical Annual, (except the 
songs.) 

" Mr. Power to give up the Miscellany. 

"Mr. Moore to supply sixteen songs as before, for the tenth 
number of the Irish Melodies, at the sum of 56500, allowing SoO 
for the arranging them, and 56*100 for any other difference 
betweenthe parties ; and therefore, on payment of '56350, Mr. Moore 
to deliver to Mr. Power sixteen songs for the tenth number, and to 
execute a conveyance to Mr. Power of the copyrights of the works 
which Mr. Moore has supplied to Mr. Power." 

" Wednesday, Dec. 18M, 1833. 

"Met Mr. Twiss in Portugal street, and then went to Mr. 
Power's ; told both that though the new proposal was a departure 
from the old one, yet he would accede to it, but must require the 
payment of the £350 when the tenth number was delivered, which 
however, would not be for some months. 

" Having thus settled the matter, begged Mr. Power to send for 
his papers, which he did, and I delivered them to his son. 

(Signed.) "H. A. M." 

Thus ends ! these lamentable details of Moore's petulancy ; which 
Would never have been allowed to see any other light than that 
of the fire, had not Lord John Russell's publication dragged them 
forth in vindication of the slandered character of as kind-hearted 
and as noble-minded a man as ever existed. Moore's vain-glorious 
opinion of his own floating ability through life, when buoyed up by 
Power's cash and credit, made him have no hesitation, like a swim- 
tning child, when he thought himself secure, to strike out right 
and left, leaving the means by which he had been supported to 
drift with the current. The retrospect is deplorable. Moore en- 
tered into unworthy pecuniary discussions with his long-tried and 
best friend ; they certainly gave many a severe and undeserved 



INTRODUCTORY LETTER. XXXI 

pang to the closing years of Mr. Power's anxious and struggling 
life. Moore was profuse, and even wanton, in his expenditure 
both of time and money. Power liberal, but economical of both. 
And that Lord John Russell's editorship should have revived the 
recollection of these pangs, no one can regret more than myself. 
It would not only have been kind, but judicious on his Lordship's 
part, to have consigned these feelings of human frailty to the ob- 
livion of the grave. And it is indeed a very feeble apology for 
ungenerous admissions in a half-told story, that Moore "was one 
of those men whose genius was so remarkable that the world 
ought to be acquainted with the daily current of his life and the 
lesser traits of his character." 

If this be admitted as a truism, it will not be denied that there 
are two sides to every question. And it only remains for me to 
congratulate you upon the decided step you have taken respecting 
submitting to the world the Power Correspondence of Moore, so 
far as it is now possible to do so. 

I remain, Dear Sir, your very obedient servant, 

T. Crofton Croker. 

P. S. — As I was about to close this letter, I received from Mr. 
Murray a pamphlet, entitled " Correspondence between the Right 
Hon. John Wilson Croker and the Right Hon. Lord John Russell, 
on some passages of ' Moore's Diary,' with a Postscript by Mr. 
Croker, explanatory of Mr. Moore's Acquaintance and Correspon- 
dence with him." 

The correspondence having appeared in the Times newspaper 
of the 30th of January and 1st instant, you will probably have 
seen, With the P. S., which, like that of a lady's letter, contains 
the more important matter, it is unnecessary for me to trouble 
you, as copies of the pamphlet will no doubt have found their way 
into the United States by the packet which conveys this communi- 
cation to you. 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



Of James Powek, " honest James Power" as he is called in 
England, it is here unnecessary to say any thing more than that 
he lived and died respected. And that for twenty-seven years 
he was the publisher of Thomas Moore's most popular work, 
" The Irish Melodies." 

Nothing perhaps can better impress upon the mind the rude 
state of the Fine Arts in Ireland, at the period when this 
National work was undertaken, than the representation of 
Hibernia as stamped upon the cover of the first edition, from 
the original block, which has found its way into the United 
States as a venerated relic. 




IV 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



It has been said, that this wood-engraving was made for the 
heading of a broadside, circulated in Dublin upon the execution 
of the patriot, Robert Emmett, the composition of which upon 
very questionable authority has been attributed to Moore; 
although there are some reasons for believing that the design 
itself was made and executed by the learned Irish Antiquary, 
Doctor Petrie. However this may be, the impression of the 
woodcut on the Street Ballad of 1803, and that which appeared 
on the cover of the Irish Melodies which the Messrs. James 
and William Power published in 1807, are unquestionably 
from the same block ; for no one then thought it worth while 
to stereotype a fac- simile, nor indeed until the genius of 
Stothard in 1821 had sublimated this rude allegorical figure 
into a more refined being ; and one not unworthy of association 
in design with the polished verses of Moore. 




The relative situations of Author and Publisher perfectly 
justify the statement made in a recent number (CLXXXV) 
of the Quarterly Review, that " Mr. Power seems to have been 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



the person deepest in his (Moore's) personal confidence — most 
employed in all his concerns, and for many long and straggling 
years, while Moore looked so gay and prosperous to the world, 
his only resource for his daily bread." The same grave 
authority has called Moore, " Mr. Power's Advertising Van" 
during his annual monthly " revelation" of himself in London ; 
as the poet's friend, Rogers, shrewdly termed Moore's restless 
appearance in the gay and brilliant circles of the Metropolis, 
about the month of June, when he entered into the absorbing 
vortex of London society ; and which will account for so few of 
his letters in the Power Correspondence, being dated in that 
month, although several flying notes without date may be 
correctly assigned to this 
period. Copies of the 
graceful caricature of 
Moore, etched or litho- 
graphed by Crofton Cro- 
ker, are now not to be 
found ; although some are 
known to exist with com- 
ments upon them by the 
learned Doctor Maginn, 
the facetious Hook, and Mr. Wilson Croker, which have 
stamped the recollection of the plate deeply into the memory 
of the Literature of England. 

Moore was represented as a winged Grecian Youth, culling 
flowers in a garden as he flitted through it, and balancing 
himself by a ponderous wine pitcher on the right side. 
Maginn's comment was a bitter sarcasm. 

" Bp&fiara dia yaXaKrog Kal juleXitoq yevo/iej/a'" (?) 

That so valuable a series of letters as Moore's Correspondence 
with Mr. Power, illustrative of the personal history and habits 
of the poet, should have been dispersed by unreserved Public 
Sale, has been and still is a matter of regret, which, although 
it had been spoken of generally in that feeling, no one stepped 
forward to prevent by securing the whole mass of letters 




VI ADVERTISEMENT. 

and preserving them entire ; and they are now irretrievably 
dissevered. 

Copies of all these letters having been made, they were, at 
the request of Mrs. Moore, furnished to her for Lord John 
Russell's information : and his Lordship having, from about 
twelve hundred, selected fifty-seven only for publication in the 
Memoirs, Journal and Correspondence of Thomas Moore, 
several of which fifty-seven letters his Lordship printed with 
omissions, the British public, as well as ourselves, are under 
an obligation to Messrs. Puttick and Simpson, the eminent 
book-auctioneers of London, for calling attention to this fact, 
and who, instead of having, as the London Athenaeum, which 
strangely contradicts itself, asserts (2nd July) " over-cata- 
logued" the collection sold by them, have done the utmost 
within the limits of their power to preserve a general recollec- 
tion of its most valuable contents. Indeed the same critical 
paper of the previous week had the candour to acknowledge 
that Messrs. Puttick and Simpson have been considerate 
enough to give us in this catalogue a taste of Moore's Corres- 
pondence with Power in several "well-selected extracts." And 
in conclusion terms the Catalogue in question a " curious" one. 

In the opinion of the Quarterly Review there is no du- 
plicity. It truly predicts — " As to this Power Correspondence," 
" We confidently expect to hear more than the Auctioneer has 
told us." 

The present volume, although entitled " Notes from the Let- 
ters of Thomas Moore to his Music Publisher, &c," is con- 
siderably more than a mere reprint of the London Auctioneers' 
Catalogue, now not to be procured, except at an extravagant 
price, in so much esteem is it held, and so eagerly are copies 
sought after. The reader is here presented with an amplifi- 
cation of Messrs. Puttick and Simpson's carefully compiled and 
valuable record. All Lord John Russell's omitted passages 
have been supplied from the original letters, by our corres- 
pondent ; and why these omissions should have been made at 
all, but to create suspicion, any one who will take the trouble 
to peruse and consider them can scarcely understand. But 



ADVERTISEMENT. Vll 

suspicion once aroused more frequently terminates in minute 
and unsatisfactory inquiries, than in agreeable results. 

Lord John "Russell's selection for book-making purposes 
having been completed from the Power Correspondence, and 
after it had been subsequently sifted by no unfriendly hands to- 
wards Mr. Moore's memory, to detect offensive personalities, 
that certainly could never have been intended for publication, 
in any shape, removed all difficulty or delicacy in the disposal 
of a mass of original letters, for what they would produce as 
Autographs to the legal representatives of Mr. Power. And 
the letters with a quantity of Manuscript Music and other 
matters were sold on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th June, 1853, by 
public auction in London ; under advice, that, if any valuable 
property existed in them, it was desirable to ascertain the 
exact amount, and to apportion it accordingly in cash to those 
entitled to the same, instead of leaving them in ignorance, or 
perhaps leading them into dispute upon a vague idea of the 
probable proceeds. 

The sum the letters produced was not what had been an- 
ticipated, and certainly not one-fifth of their value to any one 
capable of using such sterling materials in a systematic bio- 
graphy ; but a self-satisfied nobleman had undertaken the 
troubless " task" of printing an "apocryphal" autobiography, 
fanciful recollections, and painful reminiscences, not always, it 
appears, correct, set in the tinsel decorations of an Epicurean 
Poet ; for no one will deny Moore's claim to that title, in what- 
ever light they may be pleased to view his poetry. 

The following pages will enable those who desire to do so, 
readily to supply the omitted passages in vols. I. and II. of the 
Biography of Moore, as it has appeared in London. It is not 
our province to criticise Lord John Russell's judgment, nor 
the portions of a disjointed work discreditably edited by him; 
but if England can produce no better historians than Lord 
John Russell and Lord Viscount Mahon, the sooner regular 
Professorships of History are established the more beneficial 
it will be for all concerned, as the latter Professors may be 
discharged at the will of the public, and the former Professors 



viii ADVERTISEMENT. 

be thereby checked from discharging their own titled will at 
the public. 

It is however creditable to Lord John Russell's candour 
that he admits the difficulty felt by him in arranging in 
sequence the undated letters of Moore ; although the apology 
appears very like a sobbing school boy's " very sorry, Sir," as 
by the slightest trouble nearly every one might have been 
satisfactorily assigned to its proper place from internal evidence. 
Messrs. Puttick and Simpson, however, seem to have felt the 
same difficulty; but although there is little excuse for the 
former act of negligence in the Editor of an expensive work, 
there is perhaps some for a hastily got-up Auctioneers' Cata- 
logue, should not all the lots be placed in strictly chronological 
order. In Lord John Russell's publication four hundred of 
Moore's letters are huddled confusedly together. In Messrs. 
Puttick and Simpson's, nearly three times that number have 
been arranged into years, with something like attention to 
accuracy of date ; and then generally into monthly lots, 
averaging about a weekly letter from Moore to Mr. Power for 
a quarter of a century. Letters dated only with the day of 
the week or undated follow annually the letters with absolute 
dates, and appear to be from the context, with few exceptions, 
correctly placed. And then come annually in Messrs. Puttick 
and Simpson's arrangement reference to the letters printed by 
Lord John Russell, and, however injudiciously garbled by his 
Lordship, judiciously numbered for reference. 

The Sale Catalogue therefore, so far as it went, afforded so 
excellent a foundation for the life of Moore, which has still to 
be written in a truthful condensed and intelligible form, that 
it has been thought better to preserve the lots in the same 
order in which they were originally grouped for sale by the 
Auctioneers, supplying some remarkable passages and adding 
a few illustrative notes, which did not come within the 
Auctioneers' province. Of these, attention is requested to the 
following. 

The suppressed Preface to the second number of The Irish 
Melodies is alone a remarkable document. The note at p. 24, 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



upon the rhymes " kist all" and " crystal," is curious. The 
reports of the trials of Power versus Walker at p. 31, and of 
Power versus Power at p. 88, are important as to the question 
of copyright. Lord Byron's suppressed verses on Moore at 
p. 42, and Mr. Crofton Croker's Byronic hoax upon Moore at 
p. 84, are singular literary documents. The minute account of 
Moore's visit to the South of Ireland at p. 103, by O'Driscol, 
the Chief Justice of Dominique, cannot fail with the other 
illustrations and comments to give this Volume a permanent 
interest in the annals of literature, so long as the lives of 
Moore and his contemporaries are objects of public enquiry. 



NOTES FROM 

AUTOGRAPH LETTERS 

OF 

THOMAS MOORE TO MR POWEE. 



The Suppressed Preface to the second Number of the 
Irish Melodies. 

"Of the Melodies contained in this number, there are a few 
which have long heen familiar to the world, hut they are so 
beautiful and so authentic that the collection would be incom- 
plete without them ; besides it is hoped that the novelty of 
their present arrangement will, in some degree, remove that 
triteness which their popularity has given them. The other 
Melodies are but little known, and many of them though suited 
to poetry, and the voice, by the regularity of their form, and the 
limits of their compass, are now for the first time associated with 
English words. 

"The value of those airs, which Sir John Stevenson has 
harmonized, is considerably enhanced by the skill and elegance 
with which their parts and accompaniments are managed ; and 
they lead us to think, by the facility with which they admit of 
such arrangement, that our Melodies, in general, from indulging 
less in those irregular intervals, those mutilations of the scale 
which characterize the old Scotch music, are much more 
amenable than the latter to the laws of harmony and counter- 
point. 

" With respect to the verses which I have here written for 
this work, as they are intended rather to be sung than read, I 

B 



can answer for their sound, with somewhat more safety than 
their sense ; yet it would be affectation to deny that I have given 
much attention to the task, and that it is not through want of 
zeal or industry, if I unfortunately disgrace the sweet airs of 
my country, by poetry altogether unworthy of their taste, their 
energy, and their tenderness. 

" Our history, for many centuries past, is creditable neither 
to our neighbours nor ourselves, and ought not to be read by 
any Irishman who wishes either to love England or to feel proud 
of Ireland. The loss of independence very early debased our 
character, and our feuds, though frequent and ferocious, but 
seldom displayed that generous spirit of enterprise with which 
the pride of an independent monarchy so long dignified the 
struggles of Scotland. It is true, this island has given birth to 
heroes, who, under more favourable circumstances, might have 
left in the hearts of their countrymen recollections as dear as 
those of a Bruce or a Wallace : but success was wanting to 
consecrate resistance, their cause was branded with the dis- 
heartening name of treason, and their oppressed country was 
such a blank among nations, that like the adventures of those 
woods which Rinaldo wished to explore, the fame of their 
actions was lost in the obscurity of the place where they 
achieved them — 

Errando in quelli boschi 

Trovar potria strane avventure, e molte ; 

Ma come i luoghi, i fatti ancor son foschi, 

Che non se n'ha notizia le piu volte. 

Ariosto, Canto iv. 
" Hence it is that the annals of Ireland, through a long lapse 
of six hundred years, exhibit not one of those themes of national 
pride, from which poetry borrows her noblest inspiration ; and 
that history which ought to be the richest garden of the Muse, 
yields nothing to her but weeds and cypress ! In truth, the poet 
who would embellish his song with allusions to Irish names and 



events, must be content to seek them in those early periods 
when our character was yet unalloyed and original, before the 
impolitic craft of our conquerors had divided, weakened, 
and disgraced us ; and the only traits of heroism which 
he can venture at this day to commemorate, with safety to 
himself or perhaps with honour to the country, are to be 
looked for in those times when the native monarchs of Ireland 
displayed and fostered virtues worthy of a better age ; when 
our Malachies wore collars of gold which they had won in 
single combat from the invader, (see Warner, Book 9, Vol. I.) 
and our Brians deserved the blessings of a people, by all the 
most estimable qualities of a king. It may be said indeed that 
the magic of tradition has shed a charm over this remote period, 
to which it is, in reality, but little entitled ; and that most of 
the pictures which we dwell on so fondly, of days when this 
island was distinguished amidst the gloom of Europe by the 
sanctity of her morals, the spirit of her knighthood, and the 
polish of her schools, are little more than the inventions of 
national partiality — that bright but spurious offspring which 
vanity begets upon ignorance — and with which the first records 
of every people are obscured. But, the sceptic is scarcely to 
be envied who would pause for stronger proofs than we already 
possess of the early glories of Ireland ; and were even the 
veracities of all these proofs surrendered, yet who would not fly 
to such flattering fictions from the sad degrading truths which 
the history of latter times presents to us? 

"The language of sorrow, however, is, in general, best suited 
to our music, and with themes of this nature the poet may be 
amply supplied. There is not a page of our annals which 
cannot afford him a subject ; and while the National Muse 
of other countries adorns her temple with trophies of the past, 
in Ireland, her altar, like the shrine of Pity at Athens, is to be 
known only by the tears that are shed upon it ; ' Lacrymis 
altaria sudant (Statius. Thebiad, lib. 12.) 
" Dublin, October, 180/." 



One Letter, 4to. 28th December, 1808. Proposal to sell two or 
three Songs 

One Letter, 4to. 13th May, 1809 

" I think, indeed, between ourselves, that the next two 
Numbers will be all that ever shall come from my pen." 

The FIRST AND SECOND NUMBER OF TEE IRISH MELODIES 
APPEARED IN 1807; THE THIRD IN 1810; AND THE FOURTH 

in November, 1811. 
Three Letters, 4to. 20th February, 7th March, 8th May, 1810 
" The Song which I wrote for Braham did not succeed at 
all." Presentation copies of the third number of the Irish 
Melodies to be sent to Miss Rogers, Mrs. Perry, Jeffrey, and 
Leigh Hunt." " Will you have the goodness to go to Sherwood 
and Neely, Paternoster-row, and get for me Mr. Keough's 
pamphlet on the Veto, Sir J. C. Hippesley's Bill, and the Re- 
solutions of the Bishops in 1799." "The only work I have 
proposed to your Brother is one in the book line, which he told 
me he had communicated with you about, and I have yet to 
hear the result of your agreement with him." " Your brother 
tells me that you expressed your willingness to join him in the 
publication of my Irish Poetical Miscellany. I think between 
you it may be made something of, and would be a very credit- 
able beginning to any bookselling plan you may think of. I 
have bid Carpenter sent you a copy of a little Pamphlet which 
I have published here and in London —it is already in a second 
edition here, and takes very flatteringly." 
Two Letters, 4to. Jenkinstown, Kilkenny, 22nd and 31st August, 
1810 
Projected Irish Poetical Miscellany. Sends another duett, &c. 
I look forward to our doing something grand together in 
the musical way, when I return to London — for London, cer- 
tainly, is the only Theatre for such things, and once I am set- 
tled there again, I shall not easily be tempted away from it." 



Three Letters, 4to. 10th November, (two) 3rd December, 1810 
Money arrangements " to pioneer his way through the streets 
of London." At the Hen and Chickens, Birmingham, on his 
way to 27, Bury Street, London. 

One Letter ( marked " Private" ), 8vo. Thursday. Printed 
in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 143. 

Two Letters, 4to. and one 8vo. Monday, 22nd June, (1811?) 
and 31st December, 1811 
Moore's father's bill for £22. " I want to ask your advice 
about something." " I am in town to-day to dine with Lord 
Moira, but after to-morrow I am buried alive. I have just re- 
ceived my freedom of Covent Garden from Mr. Harris." 

Two Letters, 4 to. Kegworth, 21st May, 1812 

Non-arrival of a box of candles. "I know you will be 
ready to do any thing towards my illumination, and certainly the 
loss of our best candles is the most gloomy privation that could 
happen to us." " The Piano Forte has just arrived, and you 
shall soon have good tidings from it." 

One Letter, folio, Wednesday, (30th May, 1812) 

Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 171, with an 
erroneous date, as the post mark proves, of seven days, and 
with the following omission, " Will you have the goodness to 
tell Mrs. Peneaud (some time when you are passing) that I have 
found the Paper I missed" 

Three Letters, 4to. one franked by Lord Glenbervie, 16th July, 
9th and 13th August, 1812 
" The Quarterly gives us a great lift." 

Two Letters, 4to. 19th and 3 1 st August, 1812 

" I hope you have read Curran's beautiful panegyric on 
Lord Moira in his speech at the late dinner. I suppose you 
know that Lord Fingall and Lord Killeen have at the County 
Meath meeting very warmly atoned for and explained away the 



reflections cast upon Lord Moira at Dublin, one by a most 
flattering resolution in praise of him." "My friends the 
Hamiltons you see are returned from America." 

One Letter, 4to. 14th December, 1812 

John Moore (the Poet's Father) draws by order of his son 
Thomas Moore, on Mr. Power for 5625 at 61 days. 

" Stevenson has written to me from Sandbach to say that he 
is more than ever disposed to settle in London, and that if any 
one would secure him three hundred a year he would stay." 

Two Letters, 4to. (one of two sides) 1812. Wednesday 

"You shall hear from me from Lord Moira' s, whither I am 
just setting out to walk, making in all near twelve miles." 

" My mind will not be perfectly at ease till I know how you 
wish me to act with respect to your brother's share of the 
annuity ; for I find I must have at least a hundred pounds 
more this year, and it is only for you to say whether I shall 
draw upon him or you for it. My rent to Stevenson and Mrs. 
Owen, my half year's taxes, this debt to Colonel Hamilton 
(which is of itself forty pounds), all pull upon me this month, 
and therefore, though I should like much to go to town, both 
for my own business and the advantage of meeting Stevenson I 
am afraid it would not be prudent to go to the expense. Though 
I hope to leave a hundred of this year towards getting free of 
your brother, yet my expenditure altogether will fall very little 
short of five hundred pounds (including the other resources I 
have had) which is much more than I counted upon —however, 
now that Ellen and our neighbours the Moiras are gone, we 
shall be able to retrench better." 

One Letter, 4to. Thursday, 3 o'clock 

" As Mosey M'Gill says * single misfortunes never come 
alone.' I had no sooner got over the annoyance of conversing 
and writing upon your business with your brother than I received 
by the Post an attorney's letter, &c." "Your brother dines 



with us and sets off in the evening. For God sake get over 
your differences, if you can. I feel at this instant, (tho' the 
woman that has thus acted is only my aunt by marriage) how 
dreadful and disgusting a family feud is." 

Four Letters, two 4to. and two 8vo. Donington Park, Friday. 
Kegworth, Friday, the two on note paper, undated 
" I write only to say that I cannot write, as I am in the 
hiidst of the bustle of this place, where we came on Tuesday 
last with Rogers, who paid us a visit on Sunday last." " I wish 
you joy of your injunction." " On Sunday I left Donington 
with Rogers and went on to Matlock, poor Bessy not being able 
after the fatigues and ceremonies of the week to come with us. 
From Matlock we went to Dovedale, and I was much delighted 
with the scenery of both places, though not a little happy to get 
away from them all and return to my own quiet home." "It 
will most certainly be throwing away the scabbard with your 
brother," 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides), Friday. Printed in Memoirs by 
Lord John Russell, No. 176. 

One Letter, 8vo. Thursday. Printed in Memoirs by Lord John 
Russell, No. 177. "You need not send me the Examiner 
any more," omitted by his Lordship. 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides), Friday, June (12) 1812 

Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 178. The 
following lines after the signature omitted by his Lordship. 

" I have just recollected that on this day the money for our 
Nurse's child is due. Will you take the trouble of going to 
Mrs. Wright and asking whether there has been any answer to 
the letter I wrote to Wiltshire upon this subject since I came 
here ? If not I must sent up the money immediately —pray do 
this if you can to-morrow. My remembrances to Mr. Benison 
\_Mr. Power s head clerk], I rather think he liked the Tyrolese 



8 

Air as I have done it. It ought to be favourite, and I shall 
dedicate it to Miss Rawdon." 

One Letter, 4to. Thursday night 

Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 179. 
One Letter, 4to. Wednesday (August 13, 1812) 

Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 187. His 
Lordship has appended an erroneous critical note upon the 
alterations in the second verse as made in this Manuscript, 
reflecting upon Mr. Power's accuracy of character as a Pub- 
lisher. For " She is lovely [Printed by Lord John Russell 
" lovel," vol. i. p. 298.] 

— then love her! through joy and through pain, 

Though life has but one happy season, 

Thus Love had advised, and Til always maintain," &c. 
The passages in italics standing as originally written by Mr. 
Moore. 

One Letter, 8vo. (with inclosure), no date 

Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 188. Five 
lines at top omitted by his Lordship. " We got the Fish aud 
the Rose — many thanks! I must trouble you to pay the 
postage on the letters I inclose, and to send the parcel to 
Broad-street carefully." 
One Letter, 4to. Wednesday (October 1st, 1812) 

Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 196. 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides), Tuesday 

Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 199. Four 
lines after the signature omitted by his Lordship. " Stevenson 
is a shabby fellow, and I quite give him up. Of course you 
will not mention to your brother that I have sent you his 
letter, but it was the shortest way of letting you know its con- 
tents." 

One Letter, 4to. (November 12, 1812) 



Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 204. 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides), Langley Priory, Thursday 

Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 206, and by 
his Lordship dated November 18, 1812. This bears in Mr. 
Power's writing in pencil, "Dec. 18, 1813." And Lord John 
Russell has omitted the following passage from the body of 
this letter, after " express to you," [writing as I do while Mr. 
Gardiner the Sacred Melodist is screaming at my elbow] " how," 
&c. And " Lord Tamworth came here yesterday, and we had a 
desperate drinking bout of it," with two more lines after the 
signature. " You will not get this till Saturday, but I dare- 
say between this and then I shall hear from you." 

One Letter, 4to. (three sides), Tuesday. 

Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 207 

One Letter, 4 to. franked by Lord Glenbervie (December *3rd, 
1812). 
Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 211. 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides), Kegworth 

Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 212. 

One Letter, 4 to. (two sides), Sunday, (Dec. 21st, 1812) 

Printed in Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 213, but 
without the "above" Musical Notations of Moore to his words, 
" When the calm sun, at close of day," and the " Merrily oh ! 
Merrily oh ! " to a Tyrolese air, with the memo. " As I first had 
it — but in the slow part it may be left as Stevenson altered it." 

Four Letters, 4to. (one of two sides), 1st, 9th, 23rd, and 

January, 1813 

" Many happy new years to you, and may each succeeding 
one give only more strength to our alliance, and more bright- 
ness to our prospects!" Mentions his "flute playing friend the 
parson." — " I find my Father wants a little more of me, till after 
he has disposed of his house, which he hopes to do to advan- 
tage." " I can guess what your brother means by telling you 



10 

he had written to me instead of answering you on the subject 
himself. I told him that I should draw but one hundred of his 
portion last year (1812) and let the remainder go towards the 
discharge of my debt — immediately after you sent him the 
account of what he owed you towards the annuity, he wrote to 
remind me of this, and begged I would explain it to you. I 
answered him that I certainly would — that I did not know how 
far I might have exceeded the hundred, but that I was in hopes 
I should so arrange whatever excess there might be as to keep 
his share within my promised arrangement. Now, my dear 
Sir, as I am in some degree committed to him upon the point, 
and as I dare say the burden of paying him off will at last fall 
in some shape or other upon you, it will perhaps not be incon- 
venient to you to separate the hundred from whatever excess 
there is above it, and I will draw upon him for the latter as 
early in this year as you chuse. This you will observe keeps 
strictly within my promise of not exceeding a hundred of his 
portion for 1812, and it is perhaps the most easy and gradual 
way of his discharging his debt. I hope I have made myself 
intelligible in this — he will not hesitate sending you the hundred, 
I think, instantly." 

Five Letters, 4to. (3 of two sides), 12th, 15th, 1 7th, 25th, and 
— January, 1813 

Relate chiefly to matters of account between Mr. Power and 
his brother. One contains three verses for a song " To thee, 
my Lute." " I am doing words to the Rose-tree. I hope you 
have not engraved ' Oh had I a bright little Isle/ as I must put 
a totally new set of words to it." rt My aunt's business is a sad 
blow (together with your brother's) to me., Do not you trouble 
yourself about me, however, as I shall be able to disentangle 
myself without laying hold of your skirts this time. I have, 
you may be assured, no other old money transactions in such 
diabolical hands as hers." 



11 

Stamped receipt for £500 in Mr. Moore's autograph, folio, 
6th March, 1813 
This receipt was given to Mr. James Power for an annual 
payment according to deed of 1811, for the copyright of the 
5th number of the Irish Melodies, and the following songs. 
" Oh see those Cherries." A Ballad 
" Oh fair ! oh purest." A Sacred Song 
"Joys that pass away." A Duett 
" Oh forget that you ever were mine." A Ballad 
"A Finland Song for three voices" 
" Oh remember the time." A Song 
" The Tyrolese Song of Liberty." 
" From life without freedom*" A Song 
and " The Song of War." 
One Letter, 4 to. (two sides), 1 1th March, 1813 

A very interesting letter upon a variety of subjects. " Those 
two amiable persons your brother and my aunt." " How 
unjust I was to feel any chill from a letter which contained such 
a proof of your unabated anxiety and interest about me — but it 
was all hippishness" " The Vignette I think very pretty, and 
very well engraved." " Have you any objection to my substi- 
tuting something better for ' One bumper at parting?' Bessy 
is keeping herself up for Patrick's Day, which was the day her 
own original calculations brought her to — only an old maid 
set her astray, who could, of course, know nothing of the matter. 
If he comes on the 17th he must certainly be called Pat." 
Four Letters, 4to. 3rd, 8th, 10th, and 30th April, 1813 

tl I am trying again to enrich the number by attempting good 
words to ' Savournen Deelish.' " " I think the Wood-pecker a 
very poor thing, indeed, but it seems to take wonderfully, — I wish 
I could write such popular things for you my dear Sir — with all 
my heart I wish it aud I must try — perhaps I may succeed." 
* c Direct to me, Oakhanger Hall, Sandbach, Cheshire." 
" Bessy said laughingly the other night, that your brother 



12 

would come dow?i on me for ' Down, Deny, Down,' in the Post 
Bag — but though this of course was nonsense, yet it set me 
thinking seriously how I am to manage about my poem, which 
will be full of songs, and the words of which I must not, at 
least I ought not, sell to any one else. What's to be done about 
this ? I wish you and I had our Shop and the whole difficulty 
would be removed." " Cowan has just arrived without Sir 
John, which is a great mortification to us all, but he swears as 
soon as the Cathedral visitation is over, he will come." " The 
Dean arrived to-day and looked black about the will — but I 
hope she may defy him." " In about six or seven days you 
shall see me." 

Three Letters, 4to. (one of two sides), 8th, 17th, and 22nd 

June, 1813 
" We shall not for a few days longer, be able to sleep in our 
cottage, so that I am still kept from business, except what my 
sauntering meditations about the fields produce. I think your 
idea about my having a dramatic piece in view, while I am em- 
ployed about my poem (founded upon the story of the Poem, 
retaining the songs connected with it, and prepared so as to 
appear soon after it) is a very excellent thought, and I shall 
certainly act upon it." "With respect to the time for the 
Songs you have mentioned, it may be 

Oh ! doubt me not — ivith feeling and cheerfulness. 

One bumper at parting— with animation. 

The valley lay smiling — in moderate time, (or, I should 
prefer) — ' according to the feeling of each verse. 

I do not know the original name of * the Rose Tree.' " 

Four Letters, three 4 to. one 8vo., 14th August, 13th, 18th, 

and 25th September, 1813 

" We were last night surprised by a visit from the Widow 

Cheshire (as Bessy has very well Christened Mrs. Ready) — she 

rode over here from Buxton, where she has been with old 

Cowan and his daughter — twenty-two miles in four hours! — 



13 

she goes away again to-morrow. As the Knight is faithless, 
she has a lover out in South America, whom she meditates going 
to. Tell this to Mrs. Power, it will make her laugh. On 
Friday you shall have one of the old things I promised you." 

" I have written your brother a simple and true state- 
ment of our motives in announcing the close of the Irish 
Melodies, and have told him that the suggestion came 
entirely from me. I also expressed what I felt at his ex- 
traordinary charge of my having entered into a conspiracy 
with you against him." — (i I have done the new words to 
Young Jessica, and have made, I think, a pretty duett of it." 
"I am getting on much better than ever with my poem." 
sl Is there any chance of your concluding a bargain with 
Bunting soon ? His airs would be a great treasure to us." 
" I am but just returned home, for Sir C. Hastings (Lord 
Moira's cousin) laid hold of us at Donington, and carried us off 
to his place." "I think it will be prudent to remain here till 
by the finishing of my Poem I am enabled to clear off all old 
debts, and start free with you in a literary partnership which is 
the main and chief object I look to for both our interests." 
" I inclose a letter from Martin the Tallow Chandler — he is 
Mrs. Pineaud's agent, and she having gone to Scotland, I have 
some business with him about a Bill I gave her for rather 
a long standing debt — these are the things that pull me back, 
but, please heaven! next year will see me rid of them all." 
"My Bermuda business is turning in nothing at all." "We 
have walked all the way to-day, Hornsey, Highgate, and home, 
and I am a little tired." " I had just written out the Preface 
(which I have been these two days cutting down, altering, and 
re-touching) when I perceived something in it, which I thought 
still required correction." I have had another application from 
Murray about my Poem, but I shall as you advise keep it un- 
encumbered. I have told him that when it is finished, the 
highest bidder shall have it." 



14 

Three Letters, two 4to. } one Svo., 6th, 9th, and 12th October, 
1813, one sealed with a lyre with Tibi under it 
" I think either of the titles you have sent will do, therefore 
chuse the one you think most attractive. If I should say 
either, it is the one ' Oh remember the time/ as I do not much 
like * celebrated' — it is a little too puffing, but chuse which you 
like. As to the title of the songs, it would perhaps be better 
'A Collection of the Vocal Music of Thomas Moore, Esq.' " 
' ' If you have not received a Memorandum from Carpenter 
about my cocked hat, and should get this in time on Wednes - 
day, send it by the evening's coach." 

Three Letters, 4to. (two of three sides), 1st, 10th, and 23rd 
November, 1813 
" Shall you have any objection to defer printing, ' Oh fair ! 
oh purest !' till the Poem comes out ? as I could introduce it, 
and that will give it more effect. I am getting on famously. 
I have seen the Monthly Review of the Melodies, it is a 
great thing in our favour— only that it makes me nervous about 
the goodness of the numbers that are coming. I am told the 
celebrated Madame de Stael is one of the most industrious 
puffers of the Melodies. I saw them blazoned out in a Jamaica 
paper the other day, ' A few copies of the Irish Melodies just 
arrived.' " " Will you have the goodness to send the Manu- 
script of the Dram- atic Publican I left with you to him as 
soon as possible with the inclosed note." " I have now 
shut up for the winter, and have had the courage not to 
return any one of the dinners that were made for us on 
our coming into the neighbourhood. We now go no where, 
but to a very pleasant family within a mile of us, and I 
fear the winter will block us up even from this communi- 
cation. I like your idea of keeping ' Oh fair, oh purest!' for 
a set of sacred songs exceedingly, and the possibility of making 
such a work very interesting between Stevenson and me, struck 
me so much that I set to and wrote the following words for it, 



15 

which I am sure you will like." Here follow three verses, with 
momentary corrections of " This world is all a fleeting show." 
" I like these as well as anything I have written — but do not 
give them to Stevenson yet, as I mean first to try them myself." 
" But the delicate situation in which I am placed between you, 
and the danger I fear there is lest the world should suspect I 
stood quietly by, taking advantage of the dissention of two 
brothers, and leaning to the side that is most for my interest ; 
this fear it is that haunts me, and makes me anxious to tell you 
what I have all along felt and thought upon the subject." * 
* * " However our bond may secure us in the eye 

of the law, I would sooner throw it into the fire and myself 
after it than produce it against that letter which your brother 
returned to me." " I need only mention that when I asked 
my friend Rogers's advice about it, he declared against it — not 
on account of any unfairness there appeared to him in it (for 
he did not know all the circumstances), but from the idea of a 
man of business that two names to a deed were better than 
one." " I have hardly made this legible, as I have been run- 
ning after every coach in expectation of Stevenson — at last I 
saw his name in the Guard's list, with ' Failed' opposite to it. 
Failed indeed ! Tell him he may stay where he is. We had 
a blazing fire in his bed-room, and our best breakfast on the 
table for him — but he shall meet a cold reception whenever he 
chuses to come after this. I did not mean to make this a long 
letter." 
Two Letters, 4to. 4th and 16th December, 1813 

"With reference to Advertisement in Mr. Power's x^utograph 
corrected by Mr. Moore, inclosed, the latter says — " You will 
perceive it is your own, with a very few alterations, I could not 
improve upon it ; and I think as Bonaparte has beaten his 
antagonists into heroes, I shall write you into an author." 
" The Melodrama is not Lord Byron's, but you see he has 
another Poem in the Turkish style coming out. I wish I could 



16 

write so fast." " I shall have paid within this short time Col. 
Hamilton, my Aunt, Mrs. Peneaud, besides that cursed a^lOO to 
your brother, and the Poem will pay off all my other old debts ; 
so that I shall start free and unencumbered when our partner- 
ship begins. A long Peace (which I think we may expect) will 
make sunshine weather, I hope, for our undertaking." " The 
Song that I wrote for Braham and intended for you has brought 
me into an unpleasant scrape." 

Two Letters, 4 to. Monday (1813) 

" I inclose you the Preface for the Songs. I have taken a 
good deal of pains with it." " Did you see the mention of my 
name the other day in the Morning Chronicle, in an Essay on 
the Drama, calling upon me, Byron, Scott, Campbell, &c. to 
turn our talents fairly to the stage, and so, by the blessing of 
God, I will, as soon as my present stumbling block is removed." 

Five Letters, four 4to. (one two sides), one 8vo. Tuesday morn- 
ing. Tuesday (1813) 
" This morning, five minutes before six, Bessy produced 
another little girl, about the size of a twopenny wax doll." 
" Pray have it in the newspapers for me, ' At Kegworth, 

1 Leicestershire, the Lady of Thomas Moore, Esq., of a daugh- 
ter.' " " I have at last had my interview with Lord Moira, 
and now my mind's at ease. I have not much time to write at 
present, but the following is in brief what passed between us. 
He told me he had not been forgetful of me, but that there was 
no Indian place remaining for him to give away here, if how- 
ever, on his arrival in India, he should find anything worth my 
going out for, he would let me know — in the mean time, he 
had every reason to expect that he could make use of the 
patronage of ministers at home in exchange for what he could 
do towards serving their friends in India, and that he would try 
to do something for me through this channel. To all this I 
replied, that from his hands I should always be most willing to 



17 

accept anything, and that, perhaps, it might yet be in his power 
to serve me ; but that I begged he would not take the trouble 
of applying to Ministers for me, as I would rather struggle on 
as I am, than take anything that would have the effect of tying 
up my tongue under such a system as the present. I hope you 
will approve, my dear Sir, of this answer — if there be any merit 
in it, you have full claim to a share in it, for it is the prospect 
of honest independence you have opened to my view, which has 
enabled me to speak in so manly and conscientious a tone. 

And now (and from this out) to business — with respect to 
the song for Mrs. Ashe, I certainly wrote a second verse to it, 
but where it is, or whether I ever sent it you, I have not the 
slightest recollection. If I cannot find it, however, I shall write 
another, and send it in a day or two. 

If you have not already had " the Minstrel Boy" engraved, 
I think it would be better to write it a note lower for the Song 
— this occurred to me long ago, but I unluckily forgot to men- 
tion it." " I had got on pretty far and pretty successfully 
in a Song (on the prospect of going to India, as I told you) 
for Savourna Deelish — but I am now quite sick of the 
subject, and shall try some other." Wishes for a copy of 
the suppressed Preface to the Irish Melodies. " I returned 
yesterday from Wales, and I think you will not be sorry to 
hear that I have given up that speculation. Nothing could 
induce me to go so far from every thing civilized, but exceeding- 
cheapness. I find, however, that is all a humbug in Wales, 
and I am convinced from the price of coals and provisions there, 
added to the tricks the Welsh play upon strangers, we should 
find it the dearest place w r e could select." 

One letter, 4 to (two sides), Wednesday (1813) 

" The little thing was christened by the Rector ' Anastasia 
Mary. 7 We had unluckily used up the name of Jane already." 
" I am quite vexed at the disappointment and annoyance that 
Stevenson's blunder-headedness is giving you. What's to be 

c 



18 

done about the Rose tree?" " Mrs. Ready since she has heard 
of our quitting this house, is hard at work fitting up half of 
Oakhanger Hall for us, and insists most strenuously on our 
making that our home. Is not this kind ? Their son-in-law, 
the new Dean of Exeter, is to be there with his Wife during 
our visit ; and Mrs. Ready proposed that the christening should 
be performed at Oakhanger by the new Dean, offering himself 
at the same time as Sponsor. We told her, of course, we were 
otherwise engaged, but she appears to be a very warm hearted 
woman, and I wish the knight had fast hold of her and her 
thousands." " Only think of the Post Bag— the fifth edition 
comes out on Saturday." 
Four Letters, 4to. (one of two sides), Thursday morning, Thurs- 
day, and Thursday night (1813) 

" I have been applied to (with every promise of success) to 
stand for the Librarianship of the Dublin Society, <£200 a year, 
coals, candles, &c. &c, but as residence in Dublin would be 
necessary, and that would not suit our plans, I have declined 
it. What a pretty little addition, taking in the full use of 
library, &c. &c. such a thing would be in London." Mrs. 
Ready left us yesterday, and almost cried and tore her hair to 
make us go with her to Buxton — but we were hard-hearted. 
She is a good-natured woman with all her nonsense, for she has 
taken great offence with me because I will not let her lend me 
two or three hundred pounds. I am sure I do not know where 
it is to come from if I accepted it." 

" We are very much obliged by Mrs. Power's agreeing to go 
bail for our little child." 

" 1 was wrong about the Post Bag, for I received a letter 
from Carpenter yesterday, announcing to me that the first 
Edition was nearly sold, and that he had in consequence ordered 
750 to be ready against the end of the week — this is pretty well, 
I think, in eight or nine days. He says, too, that it is very 
highly spoken of, and seems indeed quite agog about it — this 



19 

gives me great pleasure, for I clo hate most mortally to produce 
a flash in the pan, and I was afraid this would turn out so. 
My Bermuda Man has written to me (no money in the letter 
tho') telling me that in consequence of the increase of business 
he has been obliged to get additional Clerks, Stationery, &c. 
and that by the next conveyance he will send me my share of 
the last year." " Thanks for the Sprats. I wish you would 
call upon Mr. Murray, the Bookseller, and tell him I have 
received ' the Corsairs,' but that I wish he would send me the 
Poem I wrote for (SafleJ and ' the Missionary' by the Coach." 
" Braham once told me the same, and I always looked forward 
to at least having him in my piece. I should not have the least 
objection to join him in doing the Music, and as the piece I 
meditate will be rather a Drama with Songs than an Opera, we 
can easily manage it between us." " I have got Mrs. Wilmot's 
Tragedy at last, and must ask you to forgive me this we.rk's 
work, as I have but a very short time to write the Epilogue in. 
Am I necessary to you in your Trial ? I did not well under- 
stand that part of your letter, but am, of course, at your com- 
mand in that as well as any thing else, and it will be about the 
time I should like to go for Mrs. W.'s Tragedy." 

Three Letters, 4to. (two of two sides), Friday, and Friday night 
(1813) 
" ^ou may guess our consternation on arriving at Sandbach, 
within four miles of this [Oakhanger], yesterday evening when 
we were told that poor old Ready died on Tuesday. Though 
it was a miserable inn we were at, and the children both sick, I 
thought it would hardly be delicate to apprize Mrs. Ready of 
our arrival the same evening, and we remained at Sandbach 
all night — a most miserable one it was to me ; for besides the 
illness and screaming of the young ones, my mind was more 
agitated and perplexed with regard to the plan I should pursue 
than ever I remember it. I looked upon our visit here as quite 
out of the question, and what I was to clo with myself and my 

c 2 



20 

poor companions, after giving up house, furniture, and eveiy- 
thing like a home, was more than I could imagine or guess — 
indeed, my dear Sir, it was a very perplexing interval that took 
place till (upon my writing a note to the Widow this morning) 
a very gay barouche with a pair of smiling servants arrived 
to bring us to Oakhanger, where, between ourselves, there is as 
little grief on the occasion as could be, with decency put on 
She is most indecorously ready for the knight, and had even 
before my arrival, written express for him to come and do the 
last honours to his dear old friend the Captain — so that if Sir 
John has a particle of spunk in him he will be here immediately, 
I am sorry to find, from some conversation with her, that there 
are three wills of old Ready's, the second of which cuts her off 
to a very small annuity indeed, but the first and third agree in 
leaving everything at her disposal. This third one must deter- 
mine her fate, but I am afraid, from what I yet can learn, that 
the circumstances under which she got it from him (it was but 
last week he signed it) will appear rather suspicious. The Son- 
in-law, the Dean of Exeter, is expected every day, and I suppose 
there will be what is called a blow up about this will. The 
grand point for her is that this last will agrees in every particular 
with the first he made." 

" What a noble place this is ! and how I should like to meet 
Mrs. Power and you on a visit to the Knight at it ! it wants but 
his own will (not forgetting Ready's Will too) to make a match 
of it." 

The letter of Friday night informs Mr. Power that Moore 
is " tahen in for a funeral trip to Gloucester, whither the corpse 
of the poor old Captain was sent off this morning, and I and 
a Mr. Cowan from Dublin are to set off after to-morrow.'' 
" The Widow dashed off to town last night to prove the will." 

"I have had another letter from your brother, not having 
answered his former one — I perceive plainly now that the busi- 
ness will come into Court, and I feel that it is necessary for my 



21 

own character to put my opinion of the matter at issue between 
you fairly upon record. As long as I saw any likelihood that 
by the yielding of your brother, any amicable arrangement might 
take place, my decided preference for you, and even my 
wish that your brother might be humbled a little for the very 
wrabrotherly conduct which he appears to have been guilty of 
towards you, made me give up, or at least suppress many of my 
own opinions upon the way we have conducted ourselves towards 
him in this arrangement ; but now that it appears so likely to 
come before the Public, I feel myself called upon to throw my 
fair and candid opinion into the scale, hoping that it will have 
that weight which disinterestedness and a pure regard for you 
entitle it to. You have bound me indeed so warmly to your 
interests by your friendly assistance in the most interesting 
moment of my life that there is nothing I would not sacrifice to 
shew my gratitude except my opinion of what is right" u We 
expect Lord Moira every day. You see how amply the news- 
papers have provided for me. One of them has given me a 
salary of four thousand a year ! My own opinion is that Lord 
M. will not be able to do anything for me." 

Two Letters, one 4to. the other on an irregular slip of paper, 
Saturday, Sunday night, (1813) 
Order for a copy of the Irish Melodies for Mr. Thomson of 
Edinburgh. " I will give up the alterations I have made in 
the Midnight Moon if it be of much inconvenience. My 
reason for altering the first line is to avoid the similarity of 
title with ' At the mid hour of night.' You will perceive in 
the 4th line of the same that I am not quite decided about the 
name of the ' grove.' " " My squibs I should suppose will be 
out to-morrow — they were printed at the very quick rate of a 
sheet a week." [The title of the Midnight Moon was subse- 
quently changed into " The Young May Moon" and the 
" Grove," named Morna, with a note by Mr. Moore referring to 
John Brown's so called translation in Bunting's Irish Melodies.] 



22 

Two imperfect Letters in Mr. Moore's autograph, 4 to., and on 
an irregular slip of paper the second verse of " the Legacy" 
from the second Number of the Irish Melodies, undated 
Both of the letters refer to the dispute between Mr. Power 
and his brother. On the back of one is written a draft of 
part of a letter addressed by Mr. James Power to his brother 
William, and the other is a draft of part of a letter for the 
same purpose in Mr. Moore's Autograph in which the manner 
he refers to himself is remarkable, viz. ■' In short to sum up 
my determination upon the subject, whatever the easiness of 
Mr. Moore's disposition may lead him to suggest to me, I never 
will allow myself to be influenced either by him or you to make 
any alteration in the Deed that has passed between us. Mr. 
Moore, as you know very well, is not a man of business, and 
however I may pay deference to his judgment upon other 
matters, yet in the present affair, I am sure I consult not only 
my own interest but his, in resisting every attempt to set aside 
the agreement he has made with me — therefore it is useless for 
you to give him anymore trouble upon the subject. Mr. Moore 
tells me that, in consequence of a request you have made to 
him, he purposes sending you copies of what he has written — 
to this I shall only say, that the moment such act of his shall 
come to my knowledge, I shall not consider myself restrained 
by any delicacy towards him from applying to the Court of 
Chancery instantly to prevent you from publishing a single line 
or note of his, and commencing such proceedings against him, 
as in such case I shall have it in my power to do. I have left 
him with this assurance, and much as I should regret the loss 
of a friendship so estimable [substituted for " valuable" struck 
out] as his, I would sooner risk it, than admit any infringement 
of the Deed by which he is bound to me." 

Three Letters, 4to. (one of three, the others of two sides), un- 
dated. (1813) 
Arrangement of Songs in the fifth Number of the Irish 



23 

Melodies. " Bessy wishes to have her Song 'I would mourn 
the hopes' last in the Collection." " We hope to start from 
Kegworth this day week. Our Sale is to be on Monday, and 
I have great hopes I shall shirk the income tax, which 1 do 
not feel the least remorse of conscience about — I am trusting 
for everything to the sale, and have not paid a bill these two 
months." " I have written to Stevenson most pressingly to 
meet us at Ready's, if he does I shall be sure to settle your 
business with him. I would really I think give up one of my 
hundreds to him to get him fixed among us. Mrs. Ready is 
fitting up a nursery for us, and seems determined that we shall 
become her inmates. I can perceive by your silence that you 
do not like my Post Bag. Its sale however is wonderful, and 
I shall be very glad if we can produce a few such bad things 
in the year, when we turn Leatherheads." " I am impatient 
to say that I shall plague you no longer with your brother's 
proposals. They are made so plausibly, that I am always 
puzzled what to say to them. I shall now do what you have 
advised." Long statement respecting Moore's irregularity in 
accounts, illustrative as he says himself in his life of Sheridan, 
of " That happy art in which the people of this country are 
such adepts — of putting the future in pawn for the supply of 
the present." "I 'got it into my head very foolishly that my 
year ended with 1812, and though I am glad to find that I 
have so much ' time to the good' for finishing my number of 
Melodies to my satisfaction, yet I feel somewhat alarmed about 
the enormity of my Saturday's draft on you, as it makes, I fear, 
a most tremendous anticipation of my next year's resources, and 
must inconvenience you in proportion. What led me into my 
confusion about the time was my having, I believe, anticipated 
in the same manner at the beginning of 1812. But I never 
kept any thing like an account of my receipts before I came 
here — therefore, of any sums received at the beginning of the 
year I have not the slightest recollection— but since May I have 



24 



drawn upon you, I believe, for £50, some time after my arrival 11 
— for 36100 in September, and for £100 more on Saturday last 
— this, with a ten pound note in November, and four or five 
pounds when you were here, is all I have down in my book as 
having received from you (what you have paid for me is another 
account.) Now, if I have put down all my drafts upon you 
since May correctly, these sums, with what I anticipated of the 
present year, before I came down here, must leave me very little 
even of your brother's portion untouched for the remainder of 
the time, and therefore, a great part of my draft of Saturday 
will fall unreasonably and prematurely upon you. When I 
speak this way of your « brother's portion,' I am considering it 
as we did last year (improperly I know) to be left to be paid at 
the end of the year ; but I ought rather in the spirit of our 
bond, talk of the .£500 at once, without separating your por- 
tions. In this way, then, what I fear is, that there remains so 
little of my £500 to me now, as to throw a great part of my 
last draft upon the resources of next year, and that I am, like 
Bonaparte, drawing out the conscription of 1813 before its 
time." 

Sends the first verse of 

" From life without freedom oh ! who would not fly?" 
Portuguese and Spanish Airs — Sends second verse of " the Song 
of War." Begs a cancel in "'Thro' Erin's Isle' — to get rid 
of one disgraceful rhyme."* Wishes to consider " of a some- 

* It appeared notwithstanding*, 
and was always a source of annoy- 
ance to Mr. Moore. 

" Shoots up hy Zephyr kist all, 



And sparkles through 
The limpid dew 
Like emeralds through crystal '." 
" Oh the Shamrock," he wrote 
with reference to the annexed sketch, 

"and that d d infernal stupid 

rhyme of mine." 




25 

what longer Preface for the Number coming from myself. It 
has struck me that there is a little too much boasting in what 
I have written, coming, as everybody will perceive from me, 
though under the name of the Proprietors." 

Three Letters, 4to. undated (1813) 

" Nothing yet from Bermuda." "The reason you did not 
get my letter till Monday, was that my little Post Girl was late 
for the Post on Friday morning. I missed your letter on Sun- 
day, for some how I look for one from you on that day as 
regularly as I used to look for your company to a Sunday 
dinner at Brompton. The people here are beginning to visit 
us much faster than I wish — and we are to dine out (for the 
first time) to-morrow." Sends a verse of 

" I'll think of you waking and sleeping." 
" Here is a verse, my dear Sir, which I hope Stevenson will be 
able to make something of — it will require that mixture of 
lightness and feeling which no one knows better than his 
knightship — You ought to have had it by yesterday's post, but 
I got a sudden summons the day before to dine at the Park 
and celebrate the Prince's Birth Day ; which you may suppose 
/ I did with all due solemnity and sincerity. — The wine was 
I good and my Host was good, so I could have swallowed the 
Toast if it had been the Devil !!" 

Three Letters, 8vo. (one of four sides). Undated (1813) 

" Pray send a Melologue directed to the Hon. W. Spencer, 
3 7, [Bury Street, and one to Miss Douglas, Golden Square." 
Directions respecting leaving a card u at the British Hotel for 
Mr. Jeffery." With reference to the disagreement between 
the Messrs. Power, Mr. Moore writes, " if it comes to that, 
however, I may regret it, the many and deep-felt obligations I 
am under to you, my dear Sir, not only in the way cf business 
but of friendship, would not suffer me to hesitate a moment in 
complying with your wishes, and if you still continue as decided 



26 

in keeping him out of our Deed as he seems to be about getting 
into it I shall not be long in chusing my side of the dispute 
though a dispute it must be, and a legal one too, I have no 
doubt of it." " I wish you had been with us last week. Lord 
Moira sent us a haunch of venison, some moor game, and pine 
apples." 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides). Tuesday 

Printed in the Memoirs by Lord John Russell, No. 217, 
with the following twenty-one letters. 

Three lines after the signature omitted by his Lordship. 

" I have made many mistakes in copying out the words, but 
Williams, the mad parson, is playing on his walking-stick at 
the other side of the table." 

One Letter, 8vo. (three sides). Friday 

Memoirs, No. 218. 

Three concluding lines omitted by Lord John Russell, who 
has appended a note of five lines upon " a little job." 

" For this next week, too, any strange anecdote that you hear 
of these people will be very acceptable." 

One Letter, 4 to. (two sides). Tuesday 

Memoirs, No. 222. 

Four lines omitted by Lord John Russell, and inclosed 
are Moore's original sketch for the Music with copy for publi- 
cation, endorsed 17th Feb. 1813, and Mr. Power's memorandum, 
"Published 1816." 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides). Monday, (Feb. 9th, 1813) 

Memoirs, No. 223. 

Sixteen lines omitted by Lord John Russell. 

" My sending Carpenter these trifles to get published has 
had one good effect, which is, that I have got the Manuscript 
out of his hands, which you recollect he was so obstinate in 
holding fast by. I have sent the last of the New Squibs, and 
I think they ought to be out in a fortnight. The sale of the 



27 

Tools, which was only last week in the Examiner, had been in 
the Morning Chronicle six weeks ago, indeed soon after you left 
this." " I am heartily sorry you should have any thing to give 
you so much vexation as your brother must necessarily inflict 
by his conduct ; but, on the other hand, it gives me most heart- 
felt delight to hear you say that you do not suffer by or repent 
our connexion." " I hope you will be .able to read this, but I 
write it in bed, where I have staid to work, as they are washing 
down stairs." 

One Letter, 8vo. Not dated 

Memoirs, No. 224. 

Eight lines omitted by Lord John Russell 

" I am sending so many letters to town, that I have not time 
to do more than say, God bless you." Cl I have had many 
sleepless nights with my jaw, but laudanum has at last got me a 
nap." 

One Letter, 4 to. Thursday 
Memoirs, No. 225. 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides). March 22nd, 1813, printed in 
Memoirs 23rd, dated only " Monday" 

Memoirs, No. 229. 

Eight lines omitted by Lord John Russell. 

After "poor Bessy" — " she was getting on wonderfully in- 
deed, 'till an unlucky tooth ached her so much, that she has 
been obliged to get it drawn this morning, after two sleepless 
nights, which, I fear, will throw her back in her recovery." 
" Best regards to Mrs. Power. I left the names of the Airs to 
be filled up by Bennison, as I was not quite certain about them. 
I shall, however, put them now." 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides). December 7, 1813. Printed in 
Memoirs Sunday — the post mark and pencil endorsement 
prove that the above date of the receipt is correct 
Memoirs, No. 230. 



28 

Three lines after the signature omitted by his Lordship. 

" Bessy is very anxious to know more about Mrs. Power and 
the Children, so be explicit, when you have time for it." 
One Letter, 4to. (three sides). Tuesday (1813) 

Memoirs, No. 233. 

Sixteen lines omitted by his Lordship. 
After, " Ready s is every way convenient" " This being the 
case, I shall be able to take Bessy there about the latter end 
of April ; and it shall be entirely at your option, whether I wait 
here till then, and deposit her there before I go, or go up now 
and return to settle her at Ready's. The latter would be the 
most expensive, and, indeed, the least convenient, measure ; 
besides, May is such a good month in town, that five or six 
weeks there at that time would do us more good than as many 
about Easter would. I shall, therefore, take for granted, that 
(however, it may be necessary for me to run up incog, to 
consult you about business for a-day or two) I had better not 
begin my company campaign in town till about May, when I 
shall have shut up my house here, and left Bessy, Barbara, and 
the maid, at Ready's." After the signature, " I send you my 
signature upon a piece of paper, which you will have the good- 
ness to fill up with the proper notice, and send to Stevenson to- 
morrow evening for me along with the letter. You will not 
neglect this ; you can inclose and direct it." 
One Letter, 8vo. (two sides " Turn over") undated (1813) 

Memoirs, No. 236. 

The thirteen lines of the "Turn over" omitted by his Lord- 
ship. 

" You have made my mind very easy about my money mat- 
ters, and I shall have no occasion to draw upon you, I hope, 
till June ; but your brother's bill falls due upon the 10th. It 
is a great pity it does not come after mine through Longmans, 
as I might procure the supplies for it in that way ; but if you 
should be urged, I can in some other channel. I shall not want 



29 

to run up to town, thanks to your thoughtfulness in every re- 
spect for me. Carpenter expects a call for a third Edition very 
soon." 

One Letter, 4to. Thursday, (1813, posted 27th December) 
Me moirs, No. 23 

Thirteen important lines omitted by his Lordship. 

"I know this will bring money. I can go on writing the 
convivial part of it, but the political (which shall not be so 
strong as to do you any harm) had better be written near the 
time of publication — and if it succeeds, as I have no doubt it 
will, we can seize all the passing events in this way. Tell your 
brother all this, though I have some doubt whether his nerves 
will stand it. I mean now, instead of one thing every week, to 
send you two things every second week, which will give me a 
more uninterrupted spell at my Poem. One of the things shall 
be either a Sacred Song, or something miscellaneous ; and the 
other either Tom Brown, or an Irish Melody. D lton has sent 
me the Bill of Fare of the First Meeting, and you shall have it 
with my next packet, or, if not too thick, by this. It is almost 
all from Sir John and me." " Will you have the goodness to 
say in your next, whether you have any means soon of sending 
a parcel to Ireland for Bessy." 

One Letter, 4to. Wednesday, (1813) 

Memoirs, No. 238. 

Seven lines at the commencement, and seven lines at the 
conclusion omitted by his Lordship. 

" I received your letter yesterday, and likewise the one on 
Sunday. We are both truly sorry indeed to hear that you have 
had so many serious perplexities on your hands — the roguery of 
your boy [a shop boy who had stolen a large quantity of music, 
and sold it for waste ])aiper~\ must be every way a most dis- 
tressing discovery, and I can easily imagine what a heart like 
yours must feel at the infliction of the law's justice upon thi s 



30 

ungrateful young reprobate." " I have been obliged, without 
giving you such warning as I could wish, to draw upon you at 
two months for 5624. 8s ; but, in about a week, if it is not a 
death blow to you, I mean to draw for my usual sum, and shall 
give you £24 out of it to meet the present draft. I wish I 
could have kept from troubling you any more this year, but 
necessity has no law, and you have been kind enough to say you 
would accept for me." 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides). 1813, (Post mark, 4th Sept. 1813) 
Memoirs, No. 239. 

Two lines after the signature omitted by his Lordship. 
" Longman will send you a book for me, and I shall have 
some more to make up a parcel soon." 

One Letter, 4 to. Monday,— 1 8 1 3, (Post mark, 20th April, 1813) 
Memoirs, No. 240. 

One Letter, 4to. Tuesday night, (Post mark, 1st July, 1813) 
Memoirs, No. 243. 

Two lines at top omitted by his Lordship. 
" Send the inclosed as soon as you can." 

One Letter, 4 to 

Memoirs, No. 244. 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides)— 1813 (December 18, 1813) 
Memoirs, No. 245. 

Two lines at the top omitted by his Lordship. 
" There has been an arrival from Bermuda since, and yet not 
a word from Sneddon." 

One Letter, 4to. (three sides). July 14, 1813 
Memoirs, No. 246. 

" At the other side," and the words of the Finland Sons; " I 
saw the Moon rise clear," (two verses) omitted by his Lordship. 

One Letter, 8vo. (two sides and P.S. on back) Castle Donington, 
Friday— (1813) 



31 

Memoirs, No. 256. 

The P.S. of four lines omitted by his Lordship. 

" I bid Longman send the book for me to your house, and I 
shall perhaps have some other materials for the parcel which 
you meditate making for me." 
One Letter, 4to. (three sides, October 23rd, 1813) 

Memoirs, No. 258. 

The twelve lines on the third page omitted by his Lordship. 

" I have got my hat safe. It is very good of you to take up 
my Bill of £24. 8s, but my payment of half my debt to Mrs. 
Peneaud, with what I have had to do here, left me, as usual, 
running close to the wind. I fell this as I do all your kind- 
nesses ; not one of which I have yet an opportunity of repaying, 
and this would be too burthensome if it went on long, but some 

time or other perhaps ! The inclosed letter to Perry 

is an answer to the last application about Drury Lane, which 
was not indeed a formal application, but rather the account of 
a conversation he had upon the subject at Holland House. I 
have told him that I certainly will attempt a Drama for Drury 
Lane, as soon as possible." 

One Letter, 8vo. (four sides). Monday night (1813) [more 
probably 1814, see 5th April in that year, p. 35, with re- 
ference to Trial*] 
Memoirs, No. 259. 

Fifteen lines in the body of the note omitted by his Lord- 
ship. 

* The following is the newspaper report of this important Literary trial : — 

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, 28th May. 

Power v. Walker. 

Copyright. — Mr. Horace Twiss stated that this was an action to recover 

damages for pirating two songs, the one called, " Fly not yet," and the other 

called " Eveleen's Bower." The songs were written and adapted to old 

Irish melodies, by Thomas Moore, Esq. They were originally published among 

many others, but being two favourite songs with the public, the defendant 

had published them singly, and to conceal his piracy had varied the words in 



32 

11 Dalton tells me he has had Mrs. Ready to dinner, with her 
hair in ringlets over her neck — such hair ! and such a neck ! — 
even Stevenson's heart was proof against them. By this I 
should think she has but little chance of the Knight, and, in- 
deed, I should be sorry he was thrown away upon her. Dalton 
says Stevenson will come over with them in the Spring. I hope 
you will like the words for Stevenson, and that he will set them 
well. I have given my idea of the manner it ought to be set 
in to Dalton." 

such a way as to deceive those who inquired for the original works. Mr. 
Moore's song began thus : — 

" Fly not yet 'tis just the hour, 
When pleasure like the midnight flower ; 
That scorns the eye of vulgar light, 
Begins to bloom for sons of night ; 
And maids who love the moon." 
The defendant's song was to this effect : — 

" Fly not yet, 'tis just the hour, 
When pleasure moves with brisker power ; 
When fancy deck'd with pinions bright, 
Exerts with sons of mirth her flight ; 
And lovers court the moon." 
The learned Counsel read the verses of each song, to the very great entertain- 
ment of the Court. Mr. Moore's other song began in this way : — 
" O weep for the hour 
When to Eveleen's bow'r 
The lord of the valley with false vows came." 
The defendant's song was — 

" O song of the hour 
When to Eveleen's bow'r 
The knight of the castle a courting came." 
In this way did the defendant endeavour to avail himself of the popularity of 
the plaintiff's songs. If such a system of imposition was suffered to prevail 
it must ruin the plaintiff, Mr. Power, in his business, for he was actually 
under an agreement with Mr. Moore to pay him £500 a year for the exclusive 
right of publishing his lyric poetry. It was obvious that if the words of the 
songs were sung inarticulately, as was too commonly the practice even with 



33 

One Letter, small 4to. (two sides). (1813) 

Memoirs, No. 260. 

Six lines in the body of the note respecting the cancel 
omitted by his Lordship. 

After " done conveniently" — " if not, I shall add it as an erra- 
tum to the New Preface, which you shall have in a day or two ; 
though I should be almost tempted to leave the Advertisement 
as it is, to vex your brother, who talks so impudently about it 

our best singers, the one might easily be mistaken for the other. He then 
made some observations on the national influence of songs, in guiding the 
public taste and keeping alive the hereditary heroism of the people. So im- 
portant were compositions of that sort considered by the English Government, 
that Mr. Dibdin had been allowed a yearly pension for the songs by which he 
had so often inspired our naval heroes. The defendant had boasted of his 
numerous piracies of the same kind, and had described himself as a fire-ship' 
that had done little mischief in the trade, though perhaps little accustomed to 
such actions as the present. This Jire-ship could not be under a better 
captain than his learned friend (the Attorney- General), but he trusted some 
of the plaintiff's shot would strike her magazine, and blow her fairly out of 
the water. 

Mr. Moore proved that he was the author of the original songs, and that 
he had transferred his interests in them to Mr. Power of Dublin, 

Mr. Bennison proved that Mr. Power of Dublin, had transferred his right 
to Mr. Power, of the Strand, but no writing passed, it was a verbal agree- 
ment. 

The Attorney- General contended that a copyright could not, under the 
statute of Queen Anne, be vested in any one but the author, except it had 
been transferred by a written instrument. 

Lord Ellenborough, after looking into the Act of Parliament, considered 
the objection fatal, and accordingly the plaintiff was nonsuited. 

The Attorney-General observed, that the learned gentleman, by his manner 
of conducting this cause, had shewn himself too able an advocate for his clients 
to be under any apprehension of pirates, or even of ordinary perils, whatever 
adventures they might embark in, under his guidance, in the ocean of law. 

Lord Byron, Mr. John Kemble, and several literary characters were in 
Couit 

D 



34 

■ — and I wish you would let me be at the expense of the altera- 
tion in the letter-press, to annoy him." 

Two Letters, 4to. 3rd and 8th January, 1814 

" Have you seen the splendid compliment paid to me and the 
Melodies in the last Number of the Edinburgh Review ? It is 
really most magnificent, and its appearance in that work is a 
signal triumph to me." " Lord Byron is about another poem. 
He is one of the very few men that write quick and well too. 
I have a strong suspicion that he will dedicate this next poem 
to me, but say nothing till we see." " If there should be a 
Peace I will go to France and Italy to collect music for you, and 
perhaps try a musical tour like Dr. Burney." 

Two Letters, 4to. (one of two sides), 16th and 24th February, 
1814 
" What a scrape my friend Lord Byron has got into by his 
acknowledgement of the verses to the young Princess ! He 
writes me word that the Prince till now always supposed them 
to be mine." Of " poor Twiss's book," Moore says, [' I have 
seldom read any thing that made me sadder than both its mirth 
and its melancholy." " I wish the Satirist had more circula- 
tion than it has; for they have just done for me what I could 
not in delicacy do for myself, that is, published a pretty nearly 
true statement of my transaction with Lord Moira." " I sup- 
pose you have seen Hunt's honourable mention of me and the 
Melodies in his ' Feast of the Poets.' " " I have had some 
letters from unknown persons with Airs and information of 
Airs." 

Two Letters, one 4to., one 12mo., 12th and 17th March, ! 8 14 
" I send this through Lord Byron." " I am in a sad 
quandary about my Poem ; work as I will I cannot get it ready 
to put to press till June, and that is quite too late for the season 
— and yet I hear of more Persian tales likely to come out, 
which may do me very great detriment, and makes . me feel 



35 

very unhappy at the delay." " I have been too nervous and 
frightened about this Poem, but nothing shall ever fidget me 
so much again, or take up so much of my time — my friend 
Rogers making me begin it all over again so often, has been 
the whole cause both of my nervousness and my delay with it." 

Two Letters, 4to. 5th and 11th April, 1814 

" I have at length received my dispatches from Bermuda, and 
I know you will sympathize with my disappointment, when I 
tell you the remittance is not half of what I was led to expect. 
The mistake arose from Sheddon (in letter to me, announcing 
what I was to expect) putting the word ' sterling' after the sum 
he mentioned instead of ' currency,' which you know makes all 
the difference in the world." " I wish you would let me know 
whether it is quite certain that your Trial [See Note p. 31] will 
come on before Summer, as I must be guided by that in my visit 
to town, and manage so as not to be obliged to make two trips 
of it." 

Two Letters, one 4 to. one 8vo. 29th April, 6th May, 1814 

" On Sunday night next I hope to eat bread and cheese and 
drink long-untasted porter with you in the Strand. Many 
thanks for your offer of a lodging — but I have written to be- 
speak my former ones in Bury Street, 33." " I want a good 
( air to write a dashing Song in praise o/Lord Wellington. 
y Our Irish hero ought not to go unsung." "Will you let me eat 
a hasty bit with you to morrow? (a little before four, if not in- 
convenient,) as I am going to the theatre to see Kean's Iago. 
I had Whitbread with me for three quarters of an hour yesterday 
about a play for Drury. Lord Byron has done two Songs 
already for me." 

Two Letters, 4 to. (one of three, the other of two sides), 9th and 
25th June, 1814 
Two curious and interesting letters. One contains the second 
verses of " When twilight dews," and " When I am dead," with 

I) 2 



36 

an alteration in the Musical Notation of the latter. " I ar- 
rived very tired on Saturday evening, not the less so for meeting 
with very unexpected honours from the fools of Derby, who 
came out to meet us about a mile from the town (on account of 
the confirmation of Peace) with ribbons, oak-leaves, &c. took 
the horses from the mail and pulled us through the town. 
After we had dined, the same wise animals pulled us out again. 
We were received at Ashburne (both places being long re- 
markable for their fits of frenzy) with the same cavalcade and 
triumph, and the only thing that amused me in the whole 
business was an idea that struck me of buying a whiskered 
mask, before we came to Derby, which I made a man in the 
mail (who had an odd sort of black tufted travelling cap) put 
on, and he hurraed like a Don Cossack out of the windows." 
" The one [Melody] I send has a good many verses to it, and is 
a subject I have long meditated. It is on the Prince's desertion 
of Ireland, and done so as to appear like a love song, in the 
manner of some other political ones in the Collection. I am 
sure you will like it when you see the rest." 

Six Letters, five 4 to. (one of three and one of two sides, one 8vo. 
of two sides), 4th, 11th, 15th, 16th, 20th, and 21st July, 
1814 
" A word from you is worth (I was going to say ten com- 
mandments from any other quarter.)" " Unless you particu- 
larly wish my attendance, I had rather be spared both the 
vulgar laugh at my unfortunate verses, and the Old-Baily sort 
of language I may expect from the Attorney-General — indeed, 
I felt as if I were gibbetted the last time." (A facetious letter). 
Three most interesting letters respecting the dispute between 
Messrs. James and William Power and their arrangement with 
Moore. " I write now, under cover to Lord Byron, to tell you 
that Kelly's book contains no less than four or five very pretty 
Airs for our purpose, and on Friday I expect to send you one 
of them with words." "The circumstances under which we 



37 

parted were such as to make me tremblingly alive to the least 
suspicion of alteration in you. You saw how ready I was to give 
up your purse, but you will never see me ready to give up 
your friendship." 

Four Letters, 4to. 10th, 18th, 18th, and 29th August, 1814 

" Jeffrey has written me so many pressing letters to do some- 
thing for the Review, and Rogers and Byron have seconded 
him so warmly, that I am obliged to give him two articles for 
this Number — but I never will give him any more ; these things 
will be too valuable to us to be thrown away so slightly." " I 
write now merely to say that I have done ' Cuislah ma chree,' 
after many trials." The letter of 18th August announces the 
birth of" Miss Olivia Byron Moore (that is to be)." " I think 
you will not grudge ten pence for the intelligence of Bessy's 
safety, it would be worth twenty pence, if I had a boy to an- 
nounce to you, but unluckily it is another girl." •' But I will 
drink an extraordinary glass or two to-day, and one of the ex- 
traordinaries shall be to you and yours." " I have been wisked 
away to the Derby Races by my friend Joe Atkinson, and the 
worst of it is cannot get back for love or money. I am invited 
from this by the Duke of Devonshire to meet the Harringtons 
with him at Chatsworth for some days — but I do not think I 
shall go. Forgive me all my sins," &c. 

It was upon this occasion that Mr. Atkinson wrote the 
following, we believe, unpublished epigram. 

I'm sorry, dear Moore, there's a damp to your joy, 

Nor think my old strain of mythology stupid, 
When I say that your wife had a right to a boy, 

For Venus is nothing without a young Cupid. 
But since Fate, the boon that you wished for, refuses, 

By granting three girls to your happy embraces, 
He meant, when you wandered abroad with the Muses, 

That your wife should be circled at home by the Graces." 



38 

Mr. Moore to Sir John Stevenson and Mr. Power, 2 letters 4 to. 
(one of two sides), 10th and 13th September, 1814. 
" I have just received a scatter brained letter from him to say 
that he means to start on Tuesday morning for Gloucester, 
which is in an entirely opposite direction to us. Now what I 
entreat of you is, that the moment you get my letter, you will 
proceed to seize this wild frolicksome youth — put him into one 
of the coaches that leave London for Manchester at two o'clock, 
and if possible put yourself in with him." " I shall have Paddy 
O'Rafferty ready for Stevenson to arrange, and shall make him 
do the Sacred Songs." " I depend upon your sending Stevenson 
to me." 

Six letters, five 4to. (one of three, and one of two sides) one 
8vo., 6th, 7th, 10th, 21st, 24th, 28th, and 28th Novem- 
ber, 1814. 
A Piano Forte "for Mr. Arkwright (the son, you know, of 
the great Cotton Man, who lives in Ashbourne.)" Correction of 
verse in the Song of " Dear Harp of my Country." " Obliged 
to give a dinner." " One fine and dashing dish enables one to 
be as homely as one pleases in the rest of the dinner, and if 
Turtle soup be not too extravagant, I should like to have a little 
down, enough for six persons," — limits the price to a guinea. — 
A long and interesting letter. " I wish I had sent one of my 
two eldest young ladies over with you to Ireland, for I find the 
addition of one more in the house makes an incredible difference 
in point of noise, and I hear every thing in this small cabin so 
plainly, that really I am very seriously disturbed by them, and 
shall, I fear, be many ideas out of pocket by their riotousness." 
Criticism on the illustration to Moore's Song of my Wellington's 
name. " I hope the Turtle soup is comeatable, as I am rather 
depending on it." The first number of the Sacred Songs, with 
reference to the Deed. " My dinner went off illustriously, and 
your oysters in the evening were pronounced the best ever 
eaten." " I cannot reconcile it to myself to delay one moment 



39 

my congratulations on the amicable turn your business with 
your brother is likely to take. Heaven send it may all end as 
cordially as I wish." " I am not at all satisfied with the state 
of the 7th. No. We want something striking, and I must try 
on till I find it." " I have just had a long letter from Lord 
Byron — he is at Verona." 

Two Letters, one 4 to., one 8vo. (both three sides), 26 Dec. (note 
undated) 1814. 
" I have waited two or three days, and delayed the second 
verse of Wellington in the expectation of proofs from you." 
Sends second and third verses with corrections of " While His- 
tory's Muse," and the third verses to "The time I've lost," and 
"Come rest in this bosom." '* These have been my employ- 
ment since I came down — hardly a line of my Poem. I shall 
now try the Ballads for Braham, and then take to my Sacred 
Songs and Poem." " I have just got your letter, very sorry 
about the Turtle. But do not mind the Cod's head, as I have 
fish ; only send the oysters." " I have kept back ' Fill the 
bumper' to consider of it." "I am sorry to see that you have 
put my name in full to those foolish early songs of mine, which 
I never authorized more to than T. M., Esq." 

Two Letters, 4to. (two sides), 17th January, 1814. 
Memoirs, No. 265. 

Six lines at top, and four lines after the signature omitted by 
his Lordship. " Wednesday — this letter was written to go off 
on Tuesday, but the young ladies had not their packet ready — ■ 
so that they must take the place of my own inclosures on 
Friday, and I shall send my two Songs by the way of Davies- 
street the beginning of next week ; in the meantime as I trust 
you will think this letter worth tenpence it shall go by itself." 
" I suppose you saw that the Tyrolese Glee was sung at the 
great dinner given to Mr. Canning in Liverpool. When you have 
any parcel to send us, I wish you would put up some dried 
sprats from your neighbour Hicksons, 170." 



40 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides), 29th January, 1814. 

Memoirs, No. 271. 
One Letter, 4 to. (two sides), undated. 

Memoirs, No. 272. 

One Letter, 4 to. (two sides), 1st August, 1814. 
Memoirs, No. 292. 

Eight lines at top omitted by his Lordship. 
" Whenever you send me another parcel, pray send me some 
Music paper — and oh ! the Bill for Tyrrell, for goodness sake 
do not forget this. The filtering stone broke all round the top 
before it was taken out of the case — there was a great seam in 
the stone, which cracked ; pray hear what the man has to say 
to this some time when you are near him." 
One Letter, 4to. (three sides), 31st October, 1814. 

Memoirs, No. 303. 
One Letter, 4to. (three sides), 12th November, 1814. 

Memoirs, No. 307. 
Four Letters, 4to. (one of four sides), 7th and 20th January 
14th and 18th February, 1815. 
Sends words of " No tears are not always," 3 verses, " Love 
and Time," 3 verses, " I love thee now," 3 verses. " I have 
been particularly prolific since I wrote last. In addition to the 
above, I have written words (to an air I have made out from 
Beethoven) of five verses, about 48 lines. You may give one 
of the above to Michael Kelly if you please — ' Love and Time* 
perhaps. I shall alter either for him or Braham any words they 
may boggle at." " I shall leave home for Chatsworth, I think, 
on Monday. How do the engravings go on, and did the artist 
succeed to your satisfaction in the sketch of the Leprechaun ?" 
As to the Doctor's request, I have, of course, not the least ob- 
jection — but I do not like the style of his wording. Suppose 
we say, ' To the gentleman who favoured me with this air I am 
indebted for many other old and beautiful melodies, from which, 



41 

&c. &c. Nothing better seems to me at present, ' scientific' is 
not one of my words." 

Three Letters, 4to. 3rd, 10th and 30th March, 1815 

" Send it to the office to be franked for me — direct under 
cover to Mr. Greville, War Department, Downing Street. I 
am anxious to know whether he may be depended upon." 
" The new setting of * Fill the bumper' will do — but Stevenson 
seems to have resolved upon doing it tastelessly." One of the 
letters contains " a small alteration in the Sacred Melody" of 
three bars. " This being for no other purpose (as Kings say 
in their letters) I pray God to take you into his holy keeping." 
Your daughter " is flourishing most promisingly, and if she 
gives but fair play as to time, will exchange her lilies for roses 
before she leaves Mayfield." 

Four Letters, 4to. (two of two sides), 8th, 21st, 22nd and 29th 
April, 1815 
With reference to Mrs. Wilmot's Tragedy, Mr. Moore writes — 
" it has been so often postponed that I do not like to send up 
my Epilogue till I have something more certain than her 
announcement of it." "I should have liked very well to have 
taught Mrs. Bartley my own method of reading the Epilogue 
but as to witnessing the speaking of it my nerves are as well 
without that trial. I dare say it will go off as flat as the Melo- 
logue. ,, "Poor Mrs. Wilmot's Play got a complete and 
irredeemable damnation. Lord Byron writes me word not a 
line of my Epilogue was either intelligibly spoken or heard. 
And it was so much the better, for really it would have 
appeared like a satire on the poor deceased Lady. No — no — 
' your gentle Inas will not do,' was quite a prophecy of the 
event. I find however my Epilogue has made up lee-way, in 
the reading y most triumphantly." 

Four Letters, 4to. (two of three and one of two sides), 3rd, 
9th, 18th and 25th May, 1815 



42 

" I fear very much I shall not be able to compass my visit 
to town, though there are many things I want to do there, 
besides the great use those ' annual revelations of myself (as 
Rogers calls my visit) are invariably of, to me, in every way — 
but the supplies are not forthcoming, and I fear I shall be 
obliged to ask the loan of your name for our trip to Ireland 
where I should not like to appear ' shorn of my beams' in any 
respect ; you can understand why, for every reason I should 
like to put my best leg foremost in Dublin " u Did you see the 
mention of my work and the price in the Chronicle last week ? 
How Lord Byron must curse that fellow Nathan, who is puff- 
ing off his Jewish wares in all sorts of quackish ways. He 
had a Puff about them the other night directly under the 
Lottery Squibs, in the small type part of the Courier. Talk- 
ing of the Jew — I have the second verse of ' FalPn is thy 
throne O Israel !' to send you." Sends the four verses of this 
song with the notes. — Comment on his friend Dalton's con- 
duct. — " I hope the above is sacred enough for you. I flatter 
myself it is both words and music, a very tolerable hit. Was 
there ever any thing so bad as the Hebrew Melodies ? # Some 

* Lord Byron is said to have heard of this or a similar letter written by 
Moore, and to have revenged himself in the following 

EPITAPH. 



Lasciva pagina 



Vet a proba est." 

Tread light o'er the Poet, whom Death was to blame 
For gathering so soon to his store ; 
Tn the lays of his youth he was Little in fame, 
Though his name has since shone on us More. 

The Muses and Graces hung over his lyre, 
And taught him the feelings to move ; — 
To wake the warm glow of impassion'd desire, 
And kindle the bosom to love. 



43 

of the words are of coarse good, tho' not so good as might 
have been expected - but the Music ! ' Oh Lord God of Israel!' 
what stuff it is ! and the price ! If the Angel in the title page 
had four Crowns instead of one and the odd shilling tucked 
under his wing, it would be four times more emblematical than 
it is." — " I have just had a proposal from Douglas Kinnaird 
to join him and Lord Byron and Lord Essex in the Committee 
of Management of Drury Lane. What do you say to that, 
shall I accept it ?" " Tell the Champion to direct to me 
Kilmaiuham Lodge. I have given up the management." Sends 
second verse of the " Song of Miriam" — " Oh when shall 
come that glorious day." 

Four Letters, one folio, two 4to. (one of two sides), and one 
8vo. 5th June, 11th, 26th and 31st July, 1815 
" This expedition is bleeding me most profusely, though I 
am not at expense for lodgings, that excellent fellow Richard 
Power having lent me his house." "We leave Dublin on the 
loth for the Powers and Bryans and after that go to Lord 
Granard's." "7, Kildare Street"—" We returned to town 
after near a month's ramble through the County Kilkenny, 
during which time we made visits to four different houses, and 

Though some have complain 'd of his verses, the spell 

Is far too voluptuously wrought ; 

That the action of love is depicted so well, 

The passion is almost forgot. 

Yet peace to his ashes ! if sometimes too warm 

His luxuriant effusions may seem, — 

In each line of those strains breathes a soul-touching charm, 

Which forsook him in changing his theme. 

Of the dead we'd fain speak and would always hope well ; 
Tommy's errors, we trust, are forgiven ; 
But if there's one thing that will send him to Hell, 
'Tis his singing so vilely of Heaven !"* 

* See ' Moore's Melodies,' by T. Moore. 



44 

you may easily suppose idleness was the order of the day with 
me. 5 ' Sends five Sacred Melodies. 

Three Letters, 4to. (one of two sides) 1st .September, 9th and 
14th October, 1815 
" I but last night returned from another country visit of 
three weeks duration to my sister in Tipperary." — " I had a 
sad journey of it— poor Bessy was taken very ill with me at 
Holyhead and I was obliged to forfeit the inside of the coach 
which I had paid for to Chester. We were five days creeping 
along, and it cost me every farthing of forty guineas before I 
got home." ft I am not only at my money's ends, but my wit's 
end too." " If you are sending me Gardiner's 2 vols, pray 
let the Scourge of this month (containing caricature about Big 
Ben) come with it." 

Three Letters, 4to. (one of two sides) 4th, 14th, and 19th No- 
vember, 1815 
" I have deferred sending you the enclosed from my wish to 
have Lord Byron's answer to a proposal I made him some time 
ago (before I left Ireland) with respect to his song. I found 
a very pretty Irish Air to which the words went remarkably 
well, and I told him that as I had failed in setting them my- 
self, the next gratification I should feel would be with your 
leave and his, to put them in the next Number of Irish Melo- 
dies — to this he has answered that he should infinitely prefer 
having them ' embalmed? (as he expresses himself) in that work 
to their being scattered abroad as a single Song. It is for you 
now to express your opinion." " I have some fears (from my 
recollection of the dates), that two of the Bills, which my ne- 
cessities in Ireland extorted from me, one to Stevenson, and the 
other to your brother, will become due to-morrow. Their 
united sums will be, I think, about eighty or ninety pounds, 
and I accordingly send you a draft on the other side for 36100 
upon the Longmans. I have apprized them by this Post of the 
sort of informal draft you are to present, and I should be glad 



45 

if you would defer presenting it till it is absolutely necessary. 
The Bill your brother drew was for money he let me have, and 
has nothing to do with any debt to him, which I took care not 
to increase." 
Seven Letters, five 4 to. one franked by Mr. Arkwright, two 

8vo. (one of three sides), 2nd, 4th, 8th, 11th, 13th, 21st, 

and 28th December, 1815 
" I have not felt very well for this week past, and sometimes 
think I have symptoms of the muscular inflammation in my side, 
which laid me up for so long a time about nine years ago, as I 
know I am apt to be fanciful, it may perhaps be nothing but 
imagination. I shall, however, apply leeches if the pain con- 
tinues." These letters are chiefly relative to Moore's Sacred 
Songs. " I have not been out of my own demesne more than 
twice these three weeks." 

Four Letters, two 4to. (one of two sides), two 8vo. (one of two 
sides), Sunday, (1815) 
" I have not time at this moment to give you half the thanks 
you deserve for the kind and feeling account you have indulged 
me with of your visit to my dear and excellent mother. I am 
quite happy that she saw you, because I know what a comfort it 
was to her — indeed they had written to me about it, before I 
heard from you." " These two [Irish Melodies'] are Savourna 
Deelish, and Sweet Harp of my Country, which I am so very 
anxious about, that I wish to keep back the rest of them till the 
very last moment." " I am never done touching and retouching 
while the things lie by me, and nothing but a printer's devil at 
my heels ever drives me into finishing. To be sure with copper 
plates this is not so convenient, but you must be prepared for 
this sort of proceeding, when we come to our literary operations. 
My Anacreon, Little, Post Bag, have all gone to press before 
they were more than half finished ; and I have succeeded well 
enough in all not to make me wish to change my method." 
<: I should like Wellington's Song in the middle, and Sweet 



46 

Harp of my Country of course the last." " As soon as I have 
got the two puzzles of the Melodies off my stomach I shall 
send you the second verses of these Songs. I have not been 
able yet to separate Stevenson's chaff from his grain in the 
immense mass of music-paper he has scribbled over." " If the 
story of the Leprechaun be authentic, keep it so — but let me 
know whether you do by return of Post, directed ^o me, at 
Chatsworth, Derbyshire, as I must mention it in the note on 
the Song. I send you a Sacred thing to keep the Leprechaun 
in countenance." "I rather fear the Cobler is too vulgar for 
the style of my Song. I wish now we had chosen another 
subject." — [See Crofton Croker's Fairy Legends.] 
Three Letters, 8vo. (one of three, the other of two sides). 
Wednesday evening, two undated, (1815) 
" I like the second sketch very much — indeed 1 like both, 
and the figure of History in the first one is particularly pretty 
— the moment too, he has chosen, excuses the triumphant air 
of Erin. Upon the whole, however, I think I prefer the second, 
and seizing the most prominent feature in the Song — the 
words under it must be 

' She saw History write, 
With a pencil of light, 
That illumed all the volume, her Wellington's name.' 
I am afraid that you will cry out at the alterations I have made 
in * When first I saw' — but remember they are to be put down 
to my account." " It is very amusing to think of Byron 
becoming a ' sweet singer of Israel,' — but you will find but 
little of the poetry actually his." Of one of his Sacred Melodies 
Mr. Moore writes — " You may send words and all to Steven- 
son, as they are married indissolubly together, There will be 
several verses to it.' et I return the proofs [of the Irish Melo- 
dies'] 1 must have a revise of the Advertisement, which has 
given me inconceivable trouble. I had a long rig-ma-role in it 
about Wellington — in which I said that it was at your request 



47 

I wrote the Song ; but that of course I did it with c all my 
heart and soul, &c. &c.' but, after twisting it into a thousand 
shapes I left that and much more out." " I will say for myself, 
there never was a fellow left more completely to his own mother 
wit in these things than I am. "Why does not Stevenson 
solicit something ? Lord Byron has sent me a song to set — 
very beautiful, but devilish hard to put to music." " I have 
not been very well latterly, continued head-aches — I should 
think from hard fagging ; for I am all day at it." " I am 
sorry to give you so much trouble about the Preface, tho' it is 
nothing to what I give myself." 

Three Letters, 4to. (one of three sides), one undated, two 
" Thursday night " (1815) 
" I find Rogers suspected me of some Epistle there has been 
about the shows in the Park ; but I have written nothing since 
Blucher." " The sixth [Irish Melody'] I had to send was, 
' Come fly to this bosom,' which, however, I am doubtful about 
retaining." " Pray, do not let the engraver put in the words 
in the first verse of the Duett beginning, ' Go then, deceiver, 
go,' as I think I shall alter these four lines." " I send you a 
Sacred Melody, which I have taken from Haydn, with altera- 
tions of my own." " I could not help putting the words, 
' Should any one,' &c. under the Prince's Song ; however, I do 
not at all insist upon your keeping this in. If the verses are 
allowed to stand it is the most I can expect. I have a piece of 
friendship to tell you, very unlike the high promising hollow- 
ness of certain friends of mine. You have often heard me 
speak of Douglas. [John Erskine Douglas was appointed 
Captain of H.M.S. Boston in December 1797, and 'Rear- 
Admiral Commander-in-Chief at Jamaica, 6th January , 1815, 
which command he held until the end of 181 7.] He has just 
been appointed Admiral on the Jamaica Station, and the first 
thing he did was to offer me the Secretaryship. The salary is 
something under five hundred a year, but the perquisites, even 



48 

in peace, are considerable, and if the Devii should put it into 
Madison's head to carry on the war, it would be a fortune to 
me. He has also told me there is a house there for the Ad- 
miral, with nearly 100 acres of land, which is all quite at my 
service, and I may take out Bessy to it. Is not this kind ? is 
it not courageous, too, considering the sort of interest by which 
Douglas has got his appointment ? He is a sterling fellow. I 
have written, however, to decline it, as we," &c. 

" And to tell you the truth, my dear friend, I look to the 
plan which you and I have between us, as an equally abundant 
source of emolument, with greater comfort and less risk. The 
Duke of Devonshire has asked us to Chatsworth. I shall go 
for two or three days, but Bessy does not like such operations." 
"That paragon of honest fellows, Douglas." " Pray, let Mr. 
Benison correct the spelling of ( Cuishlah ma chree ' according 
to Dr. Kelly, and likewise procure the name of * Has sorrow 
thy young days,' as I have just hunted through all my music 
for Kelly's book and cannot find it." 

118 One Letter, 4to. (two sides), 3 1st January, 1815 

Memoirs, No. 318. 

119 One Letter, 4to. (four sides), (1815) 

Memoirs, No. 319. 

Sixteen lines on the third side and four lines on the back of 
this letter omitted by his Lordship. " Don't you think it 
would be a good plan to send all the words I write to selected 
Airs over to Stevenson, and let him try his hand at them. If 
he succeeds, I can write other words to the selected Air, and 
there is so much gained. If not, we can leave it as it was — 
but pretty airs are such an object, we should try every means to 
get them. Do not tell Stevenson, however, there is an Air 
already to what you send, or it will make him careless. Bessy 
joins me in entreaty that as soon as your dear Jean is able to 
travel she may come down to us and take a month or two of 
country air — which I have no doubt will do her great service. 



49 

We shall nurse her, you may be sure, as if she were our own. 
Now pray think seriously of this. Bessy will be delighted to 
have her." 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides), 30th May, 1815 
Memoirs, No. 329. 

This letter bears Mr. Power's endorsement, "July 5th f 
1815," but the Postmark establishes the date of its receipt 
in London, to be 5th June. 
One Letter, 4 to. (two sides), Sunday (December 19th, 1815) 
Memoirs, No. 338. 

One Letter, 8vo. (two sides), Monday night (1815) 

Memoirs, No. 339. 

Two lines omitted by his Lordship. " I sent off the proofs 
by Pickford last night." The fourth line of the verses altered 
" hold (bend) my flight" struck through. 

Three Letters, two 4to., one 8vo. (three sides), 1st, 28th, and 
— January, 1816 

" As for myself I have got quite well again." " Just now 
I am at the very end of my tether." " My conscience is very 
well satisfied with the way I have performed my task for you. 
You have here, I think, the purest and most perfect little col- 
lection of poems I have ever written, and I only hope the 
Public may, for your sake, agree with me in opinion ; I mean 
to dedicate the Number to Dalton. I have discovered since I 
wrote last an error in the words of Lord Byron's l Farewell" 
by Stevenson, which would annoy the Noble Bard if he saw it. 
' For others weal availed on earthy should be ' availed on 
high.'' " " I must tell you a trait of this Upholsterer: two or 
three months ago I called upon him at Derby to chuse a music- 
stand for my room. After I had chosen the one I liked, or 
rather indeed asked whether he could not make one cheaper 
for me, the poor fellow said, blushing and stammering, ' Mr. 
Moore, if you will do me the favour to accept of that trifle 

E 



50 

from me, as a small mark of my esteem for your character, I 
shall consider it as the greatest favour you can do me.' I did 
not hesitate, of course ; these things are very gratifying." 

Four Letters, three 4to., one 8vo., 8th, 12th, 15th, and 18th 

February, 1816 

" I am going to give on Wednesday my annual dinner to the 

natives here — indeed, the smallness of our table will force me, 

I fear, to make two dinners of it— and I want you to send me 

off by to-morrow's night Mail a Barrel of Oysters and three or 

four Lobsters, which will arrive on Tuesday and be ready to 

take the field on Wednesday evening. The Fish for Dinner I 

think I can get good enough here, and certainly cheaper." 

" I wish you would send to Longman for ' Paul's Letters to his 

Kinsfolk ' for me, and if Murray has not already forwarded 

Hunt's ' Rimini ' to me, they can come together." 

Five Letters, three 4to., two 8vo. (one of three sides), 14th, 
21st, 23rd, 27th and 31st March, 1816 
" Poor Lord Byron ! I begin to think you had better per- 
haps publish his Song with Stevenson's Music, for I should 
suppose he would not wish the words any longer delayed from 
the Public." " The fish you sent was excellent, I assure you 
my name as a dinner-giver has gone far and wide on the strength 
of it. The lobster particularly will not soon be forgotten. No 
one here ever saw so large a one, and I have heard more than 
once since of my ' Lobster as big as myself?'" "We had a 
charity ball in Ashbourne on Tuesday, of which I was steward, 
and I am to be in the chair at the Lancaster anniversary at 
Derby on the 30th, so you see what I am promoted to," " ac- 
tually smoked out of our house." " The poor man at the 
inn (whose charity ball was last week), has just sent me in a 
small account of about six pounds, if you could conveniently send 
me so much before Sunday — for I believe he is much distressed." 
"I lost half my last night's sleep in fidgetting over the possi- 



51 

bility of your having already distributed some copies of this 
Song." " How could you think that I would take away the 
compliment of the Dedication from Dalton, or that Bessy 
would accept of it, so transferred?" " I hope you drank our 
healths on the marriage anniversary, last Monday." " I have 
promised to dedicate • Oh yes — when the bloom of Love's boy- 
hood/ to Miss Strutt." 

Three Letters, two 4to. (both of two sides), and one folio, 
11th, 14th, and 22nd April, 1816, (the latter franked by 
Mr. Arkwright) 
"You really are to be pitied. Your Poet 140 miles off, 
your Composer 300, and your poor assistant Benison lying ill — 
no one else would bear it with half so much patience." "It was 
very lucky you sent me the former revises of the letterpress 
with the last ones, for I find that the Printer had the unac- 
countable stupidity to put instead of • The Star of its Worship' 
— The Star of its Honship. One would think he was looking 
at the caricature you sent me, for the star of his Horseship 
would be very appropriate there — but there is no such thing as 
trusting printers. I suppose my hand-writing misled him." 
<{ You have not said what you thought of my grand exhibition 
at Derby ?" " The impudence of that scribbler Fitzsimons is 
quite amusing." Sends dedication of the first number of Sacred 
Songs to Edward Tuite Dalton, Esq. " As I exp?cted I am 
obliged to give another dinner to clear off my debts here. You 
cannot conceive what a Dr. and Cr. account they keep of din- 
ners." t( My number at dinner is six — a Baronet and an M.P. 
the chief dignitaries ! is'nt salmon very good just now ?" 

Two Letters. One 4 to., one 8vo. Thursday, and May 30, 

1816 

" Athenaeum, Thursday. u I came to town last night and 

have just been to Longmans where I have l done the deed,' 

and you shall have the money to-morrow." [See Lord John 

e 2 



52 

Russell's note in Memoirs, Vol. II. p. 110.] " Bessy wants a 
set of the Irish Melodies, as those I gave her before we were 
married are grown too old and too precious for use." 

Three Letters, 4to. (one of three sides) 6th, 13th, and 24th 
June, 1816 
" I hear rumours of war from Dublin, between you and the 
Knight, and you and your brother. Is there any further pro- 
gress in hostilities since I left you ? " " I am in a most ner- 
vous state of anxiety about our next number of Irish Melodies, 
for we are sadly off for materials. I must have Bunting's two 
volumes to look over and Thomson's first." "I wish you to 
have the name ' Bessy' cancelled in the last verse of the ' Sale 
of Loves,' and ' Susan' put in its place. My happiness is (as 
they say) * too true to put in a Ballad ! ' " " The collections 
you have lent me (particularly Doctor Kelly's) have given me 
more confidence about our next number." On the other side 
are the remaining verses of " Reason and Folly and Beauty." 
[Four verses follow.'] 

Five Letters, four 4to., one 8vo. (of three sides), 1st, 16th, 
31st July, Monday Nt., and Tuesday Nt. 1816 

" Your Prospectus or Advertisement you should have had 
sooner— but that I have some doubt about the policy of appear- 
ing so anxious for subscribers to the work. Any great desire 
for subscription always looks too like a diffidence in the attrac- 
tion of the work to purchasers — however, if you think any 
object is to be gained by it you must know better than I, the 
effect of these things — only I have always perceived that when 
a book is well established in public favour there is never much 
anxiety shewn about subscribers — of all this, however, you are 
the best judge." 

" Don't you think it would be right to say • Moore's Irish 
Melodies, over the Advertisement ? there are so many now." 
44 1 have paid my rent this day — twenty pounds, which I 



53 

nursed up since I left London, and have at the same time, 
given six months' notice of quitting my cottage. So that you 
see I am determined to pass the winter with you." " Heartily, 
most heartily sorry am I that the die is cast, and that you are 
indeed become ' belligerent Powers,' instead of keeping to that 
' Holy Alliance' which Nature meant between you. But there 
is no help for it now. What I write principally for is to beg 
that you -will bring a copy of Fitzsimon's second number with 
you." 
Four Letters, two 4to., two 8vo., 11th, 14th, 19th, and Monday 
Night, August, 1816 
" I wish you would look at a house I see advertised, No. 2, 
in the street off Grosvenor Place, where Raymond lives, and 
let me know the terms, &c." "We expect Rogers here the 
day after to-morrow, and I am afraid he will insist upon my going 
on with him to the Lakes for two or three days." " Rogers has 
been with us for the greater part of last week, and it was with 
some difficulty and much regret on both sides that I got off 
going with him to the Lakes of Cumberland ; but I could not 
spare the time, and besides Bessy is ordered for a week or a 
fortnight to Matlock or Buxton." " I wish you would send 
to Hone, the bookseller (in Fleet St., I believe, he who pub- 
lished something of Lord Byron's) for half a dozen copies of 

' Lines on the Death of , from the Morning Chronicle/ 

They are mine, and I find from my friend Rogers, have made a 
great noise." " Tired as I am after an excursion to Dove-dale 
with our young friend Grierson. I have contrived to copy out 
my weekly task for you." " We go to Matlock for a few days 
on Wednesday." 

Three Letters, two 4to. (one of two sides) one 8vo. (two sides), 

2nd, 12th, and 29th September, 1816 

" Matlock. With much difficulty I have got a pen and ink 

to scrawl you a line, which I fear you will take for Stevenson's, 

from the penmanship of it." lt This place is very pleasant, but 



54 

we shall leave it the day after to-morrow." " I send you the two 
I promised, I have a good many more verses to * Ladies eyes.' 
What is the real name of this Air?" [Fague a Ballagh — 
a phrase now applied to the 88th Regiment.'] Sends two 
verses : 

" He was wandering from virtue, from peace, and from fame, 
Nor knew what he sunk to, so flowery the fall." 

Four Letters, three 4 to. (one three and one two sides), one Svo. 
(three sides), 10th, 14th, 20th, and 30th October, 1816 
" Derby." ft I have only time to say that here I am in the 
thick of the Music meeting, and (what is better) here is Sir 
John Stevenson too. He goes back with me to the Cottage on 
Friday or Saturday." " Sir John came with me here (May- 
jield Cottage) on Saturday, and we have been at work ever 
since. We have done ' Silently Sleeps.' ■ This earth is the 
planet.' 'Hark the Vesper hymn.' 'Tell me not of Eden's 
bowers.' ■ The banquet is over ' — and I have written a few 
anonymous words for him to one of his own duetts." Enquiries 
respecting Sir John's son. " I never ceased courting Mrs. 
Robt. Arkwright at the Musical Festival on the subject of her 
Songs for you." " I open my letter to add, that we must like- 
wise inflict upon you the trouble of going to Stevenson's 
Slaughter House in St. Martin's Lane to enquire if there are 
any letters for him." * I send you the following things which 
Stevenson has arranged within these few days. ' The banquet 
is over ' ' This earth is the planet.' " and eight more are named. 
" Which three \last~\ (he bids me tell you), with the two above 
mentioned Sacred Melodies " [' Go forth to the Mount ' and 
1 Weep Children of Israel' ("written by me and compared by 
him within this week ")], and the nineteen he sent you by Mr. 
Rawlins from Derby, make up his Number of twenty- four." 
" Between ourselves, the worthy knight has brought a most 
troublesome house about my ears. His son has now been with 
us for a week, and unless you contrive to urge Sir John to 



55 

leave town, he is likely to continue as much longer, which will 
be such a tax on my time and patience as I really shall but very 
ill be able to bear. In addition to all this, the Lambarts have 
arrived [from Lord Talbot's in Staffordshire] to see young 
Stevenson to-night, and they dine with us to-morrow, and I 
should not at all wonder if they too took a fancy to their quar- 
ters and remained here till Stevenson's arrival — so pray do hurry 
him out of town, or I shall be ruined. I tell you all this in 
perfect confidence, but time is just now so precious to me, that 
some thing must be done to free me from these very inconsi- 
derate visitors.' , 

One Letter, 4to. (three sides), 5th November, 1816 

Sends Dedications of ' Oft in the Stilly night,* and other 
Songs done " during his \j$ir John Stevensori s~] last moments 
here " \_at Mayfield Cottage] to Miss Caroline Strutt, to Miss 
Isabella Strutt, and to Miss Selena Cooper. " His boat glee is 
to be inscribed to Miss Cooper/' 

" When you are sending me down the Reviews ge Philipp's 
Garland for Sheridan, and let it come with them." " Stevenson 
has had the magnificence to make me a present — at least I think 
he means it so. You are to order for me next door to your 
house, four cravats of the same pattern he got there. One of 
them was spotted with a kind of rose-bud, and another with a 
little purplish spot. They were to be put down to his account/' 
Mr. Moore to Mrs. Power (during Mr. Power's absence in Dublin). 
Two letters, 4to. 2nd and 28th December, 1816 
" I have had a letter from Mr. Power, and am delighted to 
find that the business between him and his brother is likely to 
be settled by arbitration." 

Five letters, three 4to. (one of three, and one of four sides). 

Thursday Night, Saturday Night, three undated, 1816 

" Indeed, my chief reason for wishing to go to town was, 

the thought that I might be instrumental in bringing you and 

Stevenson to more amicable feelings towards each other." Copies 



56 

of "Almighty God, when round thy Shrine," published in the 
Sacred Songs, and " The Sale of Loves." " Only I know you 
are not a sarcastic fellow, at least to me, I should have sus- 
pected something of the kind lurking in the first sentence of 
your last letter, where you hoped that the ' recovery from the 
fatigues of my dinner parties (one of them about six weeks 
since) would enable me soon to send the Ballads I had pro- 
mised.' You shall have the Ballads and myself along with 
them on Sunday next, and we shall I hope crack a bottle over 
the birth of the Sacred Songs before I leave you." With re- 
ference to Mr. Philip Crampton's words, for a duett by Sir 
John Stevenson, entitled " Peace," Mr. Moore writes — " As to 
what Stevenson says about the Duke of Dorset, the words are 
not so meant by any means. They allude (though certainly 
rather confusedly) to the Duchess's signing, with Lord Whit- 
worth, the short peace of 1802." 

One Letter, 4to. (two sides), 14 th January, 1816 
Memoirs, No. 342. 
Three lines at the end omitted by his Lordship. 

One Letter, 4to. 24th September, 1816 

Memoirs, No. 359. 
One Letter, 8vo. (two sides), 1st October, 1816 

Memoirs, No. 360. 

Two lines in the body of the letter, with five after the signa- 
ture omitted by his Lordship. 

After the Melodies. u His [Sir John Stevenson' 's] letter 
(which is, to be sure, a unique) is inclosed." " Pray send the 
inclosed as soon as possible. Mrs. McMullins address you 
have somewhere in your books, it is Hercules Buildings, 
Lambeth, I think." 

Three Letters, 4to. 2nd, 4th, and 22nd January, 1817 

" I have just been suffering scarification over my left temple, 
and have lost between three and four ounces of blood for a 



57 

troublesome pain I had had for some time in my head, which 
the medical men both here [Derby] and at Ashbourne say has 
proceeded from too intense application." " The pain in my 
head returned again last night, and I suppose I must lose a 
good deal more blood — it is unfortunate I should be troubled 
with any thing in my head just now when I have such urgent 
demand for all its exertions." 

Four Letters, two 4to. (one of two sides), two 8vo. February 
8th, and 26th, 28th, and 31st March, 1817 

" I have not yet looked at the proofs, but shall endeavour to 
send those you want for Stevenson immediately, and shall take 
the rest with me to town myself the week after next when I go 
to put my Poem \Lalla Rookh] to press, and take a house some- 
where near London till it is published. I do not mean to 
carry up my live luggage till I have the house ready to put 
them in. I got the £5 quite safe, and it has kept the devil 
out of my pocket these few weeks past — but I am now obliged 
to draw, and I am sorry to say most of the sum goes to pay the 
Longmans what I lately extracted from them, till I see whether 
there is likely to be any evasion about the Terms of the Poem. 
If they hesitate you and I will print it ourselves." 

" I feel quite sure you will not press me now (in the crisis of 
my fate) more than is absolutely necessary, nor oblige me to 
bring out the Number in a state I do not perfectly approve of. 
In addition to the feelings of kindness I know you have for me, 
it would evidently not be your own interest to do so, as if I fail 
in my great work I shall still have my fame in the lyrical way 
to retire upon ; but, if I should so unluckily contrive it, as at 
the same time to fail in both, I am be-devilled, and you with 
me. You may depend, however, upon my doing every thing to 
have the Number out as soon after the Poem as possible, but I 
am the more anxious to have it good from looking upon it as a 
corps de reserve for my fame, in case the main attack is unsuc- 
cessful." " I have just given my tailor a draft for 5639 which 
he will present to-morrow." 



Eight Letters, two 4to., five 8vo., one l2mo., 24th, and 26th 
April, 6th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 21st, and 31st May, 
1817. One of two sides, dated "Hornsey," with a 
draft on Mrs. Branigan for j£20. (never presented). 
" My money I left with Mrs. Branigan to take care of for 
me." " I have not been in town since I saw you except on 
Saturday last, when I went in to the Royal Academy dinner." 
" I believe I am to be announced for the 22nd, so you may 
imagine what a bustle I am in." " About this dav week I hope 
to.see you in town and crack a bottle with you to Larry Rook 
and other Irish friends of ours." "Will you and Mrs. Power 
come out and dine with us to-morrow ? You know our hour 
(three o'clock), and the stage will take you back at seven," 
Six Letters, one 4to. four, 8vo., one 12mo. June — , 26th August, 
10th, 18th, 19th, (56, Davies Street,) and 20th September, 
1817 
" I have received the Edinburgh Review, full of praises of 
Lalla Rookh. The one that first spoke slightingly (as I told 
you) has quite altered its tone, and there is in the Journal called 
* The Scotsman' a most flattering article." " We think Barbara 
a little better-." " Barbara has been this morning so ill that 
we felt seriously alarmed — however, the medical man says she 
is not worse." "All's over — my dear sir — we've lost our poor 
Barbara," &c. "You will find us here — where we are more 
retired (there being none of them in town) than we could be 
any where else. May I trouble you to lend us a couple of table 
and tea spoons and a couple of forks," &c. " May I ask you 
to have the inclosed put in the Morning Chronicle, Times, and 
Courier of Monday V 
Five Letters, three 4to., two 8vo. ,9th October, 15th, 24th, 27th, 
and 30th November, 1817. One with beautiful impres- 
sion of the Poefs Seal, with Erin go bragh above the 
Irish Harp. 
Wishes Mr. Power to accompany Bessy " in the Coach down 



59 

to Sittingbourne, and look at a house there is there to be let ?" 
" Stothard means to do the Willow over again, and, indeed, 

promised to have it ready to-day. Rogers says the two other 

drawings are the best he ever saw of even his favourite Stot- 
hard's, and wishes you would dispose of them to him, when the 
engravings are taken." Sends new words to " the Girl I left 
behind me." " I am gradually getting into some sort of com- 
fort." " I shall try him again by Tuesday's post, when I shall 
send you the second verse of ' Wreath the Bowl' with the music. 
When we are settled, however, I think we shall be very com- 
fortable the Green-house has been left in statu quo ; 76 

plants as per inventory." [Post mark, Devizes.] 

Four Letters, one 4to., three Svo. (one of two sides), 3rd, 8th, 19th, 
and 29th December, 1817 {see Uth December, 1818) 
" This note is the first I have written in my new study, 
which is I assure you very neat and comfortable. We were last 
night till very late getting the books into the shelves." Allud- 
ing to an air composed to " Tell me not," Moore writes, " I 
think it is the sort of thing Braham would like— if he will sing 
any thing of mine — and at all events you had better try him with 
it." " I am glad you agree to my decision about Steven- 
son, and hope it will all end as amicably as I wish— but 
would' nt it have been better of you to tell me you wanted my 
opinion in writing, as a document ? because that would have 
given me an opportunity of wording it with more care and 
strictness. As it is, there is nothing in what I wrote to you, I 
believe that is not exactly what I mean. But I certainly should 
like that, at the same time with my opinion of his want of punc- 
tuality, there should likewise stand upon record what I thought 
of your over-exactness, if you had held him down rigorously to 
the strict letter of his agreement. It is now, however, I hope 
in a fair way of being settled — but it is the ill-blood generated 
in these transactions on both sides, which always makes it so 
difficult to do anything with them." "I send you the little 



60 

Preface [to the National Airs] which I hope you will like. 
You will perceive, that I have made a pretty direct puff in it, 
and I rather think it will not be taken wrongly. If, however, 
it should appear to you too strong, it will be very easy to leave 
out the two last sentences altogether, and end with the words 
' Hippocrene with its Song.' " [This passage did appear ', but is 
omitted by Mr. Moore in his Collected Works.] " The Edin- 
burgh Article is come out, and considering that Jeffery had 
a hard card to play, having committed himself to the Public 
by such a sweeping condemnation of my poetry altogether, I 
have come off pretty well. Indeed the only thing he seems to 
complain of is my having too many beauties." 
Six Letters, two 4to., three 8vo., one irregular, Monday (two), 
Wednesday, Saturday, Saturday Night, and one undated 
1817 
"Oft in the stilly, &c, I shall take up with me." Parcel 
" to be folded in strong paper and forwarded by the mail to 
Mr. Jeffery immediately." " Send the inclosed to Twiss, and 
get an answer if you can to it? I don't know his direction, 
and our places at the Theatre to-morrow night depend upon 
him." " I am obliged to go off to the Russell Square region to 
enquire about the Branigans, but I shall be with you at four 
o'clock, and join you over your pot -luck, if you'll let me." 
" We have left our keys behind us in the bundle, and therefore 
shall be doomed to pass the night in a lock up house f if you do 
not send it to us by the bearer." " We shall have a fine life of 
it between him [Mr. William Power] and Carpenter." 

One Letter, 8vo. 8th January, 181/ 
Memoirs, No. 362. 

Three lines in the body and two at top omitted by his 
Lordship. " I send three Irish Melodies, and shall make a 
parcel of the Proofs as soon as I have the other two ready for 
you." " I must trouble you to pay the postage of the inclosed 
for me — it is for Venice." 



61 

One Letter, 4to. 18th January, 1817 
Memoirs, No. 364. 

[Memo, by Mr. Power] " Bank of England note for £5. 
dated Nov. 8, 1816, No. 4563." 
One Letter, 4to. Paris, 7th August, 1817 
Memoirs, No. 379. 
P.S. omitted by his Lordship. 
" Pray pay the inclosed for me." 
One Letter, 4to. 19 th November, 1817 
Memoirs, No. 386. 

Eight lines in the body omitted by his Lordship. 
" I wish you would immediately on receiving this go to the 
Morning Chronicle office and alter my direction from Calne to 
Devizes. Write a little note also to Mr. Cruise, newsman, 
72, Little Britain, and bid him direct my Examiner to Sloperton 
Cottage, Devizes. I should be glad also if you would any time 
you are passing by Murray's leave my proper address with him — 
any day will do for this, but pray mind about the others im- 
mediately, and bid Cruise send the Examiner off on Sundays" 
One Letter, 8vo. 20th December, 1817 

Memoirs, No. 387. 
One Letter, 4to. 23rd December, 1817 
Memoirs, No. 388. 
Eight lines omitted by his Lordship. 

"As to the dedication, you know it was merely under con- 
sideration whether I should dedicate it to Lady Lansdowne — 
and I rather think it would look too ready with my homage to 
the noble neighbours, and that I shall not dedicate to any one." 
" I find I omitted inclosing the notes of the worthy Father and 
Son — but they shall go in my next." 
Five Letters, four 4 to. (one of two sides), one 8vo. (unsigned, 
two sides), 5th, 12th, 21st, 27th, and 31st January, 
1818 
" The air of ' a Temple to Friendship' is a Waltz, but of 



62 

what country I don't know. You could easily find out by 
enquiring. It is in these things we miss poor Bennison. We are 
going on Monday to pass a day or two at my friend Bowler's, 
and I expect to make use of him in finding out for me some 
good sacred airs." " Lady Lansdowne has so won me over by 
her good nature to Bessy, that I mean after all to dedicate the 
book to her. I told her, however, she should have the Songs 
to look over, before she committed herself as Dedicatee." 
Mentions a long letter from Lady Flint about her compositions 
to Lalla Rookh. Corrections to "Dost thou remember," and 
"Oh come to me." " I was surprised on Sunday by a letter 
from your brother's Attorney, giving me notice of my attendance 
being necessary in February at the trial of his action against 
you. This is sad work every way, and will be devilish incon- 
venient to myself — besides the real and deep regret I feel at 
the explosion between you. Lady Lansdowne is coming to call 
on Bessy this morning, when I mean to play the airs to her." 
" We expect Mrs. Branigan down on a farewell visit some time 
soon. You know, I suppose, they are going to Jamaica for two 
years." Sends dedication to the Marchioness of Lansdowne. 
"I am in great alarm about our Seventh Number [Irish 
Melodies'], in the first place T miss one in the set which you 
sent me, which I particularly wish to keep, that is, ' Shake the 
tears from thy harp, let the light of its Song.' In the next place 
I cannot reconcile myself to keeping ' When the cold earth lies 
over,' though they are some of my best words ; but they go so 
cursedly ill to that tune. In the third place you have printed 
the two different sets of words I sent you for ' the Girl I 
left behind me' together. When I wrote the words beginning 
* Against the wind her foaming track,' I meant that the former 
ones beginning 'Tho' joy in every land may cheer,' should be 
entirely cancelled. For God sake look for * Shake the tear 
from thy harp,' as I tremble for the success of the Number 
unless we make it much better than it." " When vou are 



63 

advertising the National Melodies, do not put f dedicated to, &c* 
as it always looks puffy and vulgar." 

Three Letters, 4 to. (two of two sides). 6th, 21st, and 28th 
February, 1818 
With reference to numerous cancels Mr. Moore writes, 
" You may easily suppose it would be much less trouble to me 
to let it go out as it is without racking my brains to improve it ; 
but my anxiety for the reputation of the work is predominant 
over every other feeling." " Let me have Philipp's second 
letter to the Edinburgh Review published by Hone." " What 
Stevenson now proposes," &c. (he being much in want of money), 
&c. u it will give great pleasure to hear that the matter is finally 
settled, as we have had God knows enough of wrangling — 
enough to disgust me almost with what has hitherto been the 
pleasantest pursuit of my life, and to incline me very much to 
give it up altogether." rt Wishing success to whatever side 
right is upon, and trusting," &c. " A letter which I received 
yesterday induces me (though it was my intention not to agi- 
tate this matter till after our approaching settlement) to ask 
you whether it is truly and sincerely your wish to renew the 
agreement that has been between us, on the same terms and for 
the same time. I have no other object in asking this question 
than merely that it may enable me to answer more satisfac- 
torily rather an important suggestion that has just been made to 
me by a friend of mine— therefore if you think your answering 
it would commit you, in any respect, further than you wish, the 
matter is not so urgent but that I can wait your own time with 
patience — particularly, as it is not my intention to decide upon 
any thing till after the settlement of my present account 
with you. Whatever may be your determination or my own 
I trust nothing wi 1 ever disturb the friendly intercourse be- 
tween us so long. You will always find me ready to acknow- 
ledge with gratitude, the liberality, promptitude, and friend- 
liness of your dealings with me. As to your transactions 



64 

with your brother, that is another concern, and I have seen 
much on both sides to lament and disapprove of. But with 
respect to your conduct to me, I am glad to have an opportu- 
nity of thus putting upon record, that up to this moment (with 
the single exception of your a/^er-thought of a deduction from 
my annuity — (a circumstance which I myself do not see in half 
so unfavourable a light as some of my friends), I have ex- 
perienced nothing from you but the most ready liberality, the 
most kind attentions and the most considerate toleration of my 
irregularity and delays. This is the language, altogether, 
which I hold to every one, in speaking of your conduct to me, 
and I trust I never shall have reason to recall a single word 
of it." 

Six Letters, four 4to., two 8vo., 4th, 9th, 13th, 24th, 28th and 
30th March, 1818 
" I am sadly vexed to find Stevenson has not written the 
new accompaniment to the single voice (it will not require any 
alteration as harmonized) of ' Wreath the Bowl.' He pro- 
mised me most faithfully he would, and it was only on that 
promise that I let him off the evening we looked over them 
together." " Why don't you announce the National Melodiesin 
the Newspapers. Is this the name you have determined on ? 
I should rather have preferred (what I believe I called them at 
first), ' Airs of all Countries,' or something perhaps shorter 
than this — but I suppose the title's engraving. Do you see a 
new book by Thomas Brown announced in the Papers ? What 
a dreadful account of your Strand Fire !'' " Returns proofs of 
7th Number Irish Melodies, except * They may rail at this 
life/ for which I must have another second verse, if I can pos- 
sibly hit upon one to please me, and many is the attempt I 
have made. — It will, I believe, be a pretty Number after all — 
The words are certainly as good as any. Luck attend it and 
all you undertake is sincerely the wish of yours, &c." " It 
would be a great ease to my mind to leave out ' They may 



65 

rail at this life,' but it will be such a gem in the Number, if I 
can finish it properly, that I will certainly not indulge my idle- 
ness by rejecting it." " After many attempts (so many as 
would surprise you) I have found that my first idea of the 
second verse for ' They may rail at this life' was much better 
than I have since been able to strike out, and accordingly with 
some alteration in the four last lines, it is to stand pretty much 
as it was before.— Has the Arbitrator made his award? I have 
been anxious, but almost fearful to ask about it." 

Five Letters, three 4 to., two 8vo., 12th, 14th, 16th, 19th and 
25th May, 1818 
" It has occurred to me since I came down that we must 
have a Preface to the 7th Number, and it is odd neither of us 
thought of it before. You shall have it in a day or two. I 
have got a most valuable correspondent and contributor for 
our future Melodies — a Mr. Croker, near Cork, who has just 
sent me thirty-four Airs, and a very pretty drawing of a cele- 
brated spot in his neighbourhood. He promises me various 
traditions too, and sketches of the scenery connected with 
them. All which will be of the greatest service to us." " I 
shall set out for Ireland on Monday." — " What an extraordi- 
nary decision this is ! I cannot understand it, tho' I own I 
feared all along something unfavourable to you. My only hesi- 
tation as to a future agreement between you and me is the fear 
that with all these burdens on you, you will not be equal to it. 
One thing I can promise you and that is, that your brother 
shall never have anything to do with me. — Keep up your 
spirits, my dear Sir. Nothing is got by drooping, and with 
exertion you may retrieve all yet." "I am delighted to hear 
you are making up your mind so heroically." Manchester — 
Saturday, " I will attend to what you say about Stevenson. I 
hope to be in Dublin on Tuesday." 

Two Letters, one 4 to., one 8vo., 23rd and 26th June, 1818 

F 



66 

" What is to be done about the Sacred Songs ? Stevenson 
was very ill when I was in Dublin, and I had no time to speak 
to him, but your brother told me he is determined not to arrange 
them. Dalton however seemed to think he ought as a private 
matter between him and me, and I intend to try whether he 
will not." " Didn't I say that ' They may rail at this life' was to 
be set half a note lower? It can't be helped now, I suppose." 
• " You have not I suppose seen a full account of my dinner, 
as it appeared in the Irish papers — and I have not one to spare 
to send you." " The Longmans' have behaved with un- 
common generosity to me about the Fudges— they have added 
two hundred pounds to my share of the profits from their own, 
which is a thing of course I never could have dreamt of." 

Four Letters, three 4to., one 8vo., 7th, 12th, 16th, and 24th 
July, 1818 
" Your brother has kept so close to the wind with me, that 
I feel not the least overflowings of generosity towards him, and 
therefore should wish him to have no more than according to 
the most rigid interpretation of the deed, he is entitled to. 
With you I trust I shall have other opportunities (after we 
have entirely settled this affair) of shewing what I feel. I con- 
gratulate you on the spirit that has been shewn in so many of 
the Elections." " Mr. Rogers will send some papers to your 
house for me, which you will take great care of (as they are 
Sheridan's MS.)" " I wish you to get a plate engraved for me, 
at some Stationer's near you, for a paper to paste in the front 
of my books with my name and crest. I dare say you have 
seen what I mean. Only don't let them make the Black's face 
too like me ! Tell them it is the crest of the Drogheda Arms 
(a black's head out of a Coronet), and perhaps they will be able 
to put it in some more tasteful form than the above, by en- 
closing it in a garter or some such way; — but pray get it done 
as soon as you can, and have a thousand struck off for 



67 

me." w The motto in the garter ought, I suppose, to be that 
of the arms, which is 

FOKTIS CADERE CEDEEE NON POTEST. 

Let them not make any mistake in the words. The Coronet 
maybe in or not." 

"In your various characters of Bill Accepter, Fish-Agent, 
&c. &c. I keep you always fully employed. I now want you to 
dispatch me, by to-morrow night's coach, a good dish of fish 
for Saturday's dinner. Lord Lansdowne comes to eat a family 
dinner with us, and a Lord's family dinner is a poet's best one 
you know." " You perceive we have got rid of our large bill 
— all by the Fudges. I do not owe the Longmans' a farthing. 
I shall however in the course of a few days make use of your 
name for a small shot of forty pounds or so." 

Three Letters, 4 to., 14th, 18th, and 28th August, 1818 

" I am full of grief and dismay, as usual, at the prospect of 
interminable war between you and your brother, and I am 
seriously afraid it will have the effect of preventing any satis- 
factory arrangement between you and me, for I am sure to be 
hooked, some way or other, into the conflict, if I continue con- 
nected with either party." " I think of going in a few days to 
Leamington Spa for the purpose of having an interview with 
Mrs. Lefanu, the only surviving sister of Sheridan." " On my 
return I found your letter with the account of poor Mr. Cooper's 
death, and 1 have since had one from his son on the same sub- 
ject. It appears to me to have been very like murder alto- 
gether. I inclose you a letter I have had from Stevenson, 
which you will see leaves us in the lurch altogether as to our 
arrangements. I really do not know what is to be done. I 
detest the idea of giving my things into the hands of any one 
else, and yet in justice to your claim upon them, they must be 
put into a finished state by some one." " Pray pay Lord 
Byron's letter for me." 

F 2 



68 

Six Letters, five 4to., one 8vo., 3rd and 30th September, 2nd, 
5th, 12th, and 31st October, 1818 

" I have promised to go for two days to Sir Francis Burdett's, 
and as his house is on the way to town, my intention at present 
is (if it will not delay your business too much) to go to him on 
Monday next, stay over Tuesday, and be in town on Wednesday 
night." With reference to Sir John Stevenson, Mr. Moore 
says that he conceived that Mr. Power had performed his part 
of what he had decided between them, in accepting Sir John's 
draft, " and that he alone appeared to me to have failed in not 
giving those things he had agreed for. I shall now I think 
tell him that as I perceive I cannot depend upon his steadiness 
for fulfilling punctually what I determine, I shall leave him to 
his other advisers." " I write to you now about a most im- 
portant affair — no less than a turtle of 120 lbs. weight, which 
Branigan has, it appears, consigned to you for me. I shall be 
much obliged by your receiving the illustrious stranger with 
all due attention, and forwarding him in as good health and 
spirits as possible to Sloperton. I mean him as a present to 
my neighbour the Marquis, who is much better able to enter- 
tain such an expensive guest than I am." " I hope this reforma- 
tion in his [Sir John Stevenson s] ideas will be the means of 
restoring peace between you." " I grieve to hear that the 
Foreigner we expected has died upon his passage, and am sorry 
you have had so much trouble about him, but I forgot to men- 
tion to you that this Captain is also the bearer (or ought to be) 
of a shawl for Bessy and a small parcel for me. These can't 
have died on the passage also, and are worth inquiring about." 
" You see Perry has puffed us well, and Hunt has promised an 
Article on the subject ; but I wish you would call at the Morn- 
ing Chronicle office with the correction's I have written at the 
other side. How could they make such a precious blunder?" 
*' I find that Wilkie and Murray are coming down to me about 



69 

rny Sheridan work. If you and the Longmans were to join the 
party I should be finely beset !" 

Four Letters, 4to. (one of two sides), 11th December, 1817, (the 
first referring to arbitration with Stevenson, placed out 
of date by mistake), 14th November, llth and 22nd 
December, 1818 

"I suppose you find the 7th Number [Irish Melodies'] rather 
slow in its circulation, from the dull season it was brought out 
in, but I trust it will be a thriving winter vegetable for you." 
" There is nothing in the world more easy to be understood 
than the decision I proposed, and you have shewed over and 
over in conversation with me that you did understand it. How- 
ever, here it is again. That Stevenson should make up his 
number of twenty-four each year from the commencement of 
your agreement to the end, and that you should pay him the 
full amount of the stipulated annuity. My arguments to induce 
you to sacrifice the contested points (viz. his irregularity in the 
time of giving these things, &c.) I shall not repeat ; because if 
they were good for anything you remember them, and I thought 
indeed you were convinced by them. I perceive, however, the 
whole affair is as unsettled as ever, and I shall therefore hope- 
lessly resign my office as arbitrator. What I mean by saying," 
&c. " I am sorry we did not come to some more explicit un- 
derstanding about our future connection when I was in town, 
as there are many circumstances about which I am puzzled how 
to act. I have found it necessary to make use of your name 
for a bill at two months, having got rid of all my money in , 
leaving myself (thank God) without a single serious debt on 
my shoulders. I have written to Stevenson to say that I com- 
pletely and finally wash my hands of all future concern in the 
differences between him and you. I also have entreated him 
to let me know decisively what he means to do with respect to 
the pieces that yet remain to be arranged for the Sacred Melodies, 



as if he will not do them off hand for me, I must get somebody 
else." 

Three Letters and Advertisement to the National Melodies, 

(with the omitted passage, termed by Moore " a 

pretty direct puff" three 4to., one 8vo. Wednesday, 

Epping Forest, Wednesday — Saturday, Pater-Noster row, 

(1818)? 

u It is not indeed, without strong hopes of success that I 

present this First Number of our Miscellany to the Public. As 

the Music is not my own, and the words are little more than 

unpretending interpreters of the sentiments of such Airs, it will 

not perhaps be thought presumption in me to say I consider it 

one of the simplest and prettiest collections of Songs to which I 

have ever set my name." — T. M. 

" I suppose it is too late to object — but I do not like the 
Magdalen at all [by Westall]. There is not sufficient beauty 
in the face, and the drawing is bad." " I am better pleased 
with the set since I wrote last, and if Stevenson will attend to 
my remarks, he may improve his symphonies, &c. without 
much alteration. What I wished very much was to get some- 
thing like ' Sound the loud Timbrel.' " " Arrived this morning 
and went instantly to a Proctor ; who has given me some comfort 
— my case is not so immediately desperate as I feared. I should 
have been with you afterwards, but the rain has made me prefer 
close quarters here, where I dine." [Pater-noster Row~\. 

Mr. Moore to Mr. Power, and Mr. John Power, five Letters, 
one folio, three 4 to. one 8vo. (of three sides), undated. 
" Tuesday morning. I am not very well, and am going to 
my Father's to dinner." " The letter to Sir James Cockburn 
must be put in to-morrow." " Will you, when you are sending 
any thing to me, find a little book called ' the adopted Daughter/ 
for Statia, and let me have it. It is written by a Miss Sand- 
ham." Second verse of "A Temple to Friendship," [for 
National Melodies, after which Stothard made his drawing 



71 

engraved in that work]. " The two last lines may form the 
subject — the figures to be the sculptor and the maiden carrying 
off a statue of Cupid, while an image of Friendship stands 
neglected on the floor." " I am sorry that I gave you the 
annoyance of sending the seventh Number to Stevenson (for 
it could have been easily avoided), but, indeed, where there is 
so much disagreeable entanglement, I find it is impossible to 
stir a step without annoying some of you. As to keeping the 
proofs, that may be my fault also," &c. " I long to hear what 
was your set-off against your brother's charge on Carpenter's 
business. That was (to say the least of it) unlucky. I did 
not hear Maiden's evidence, but Carpenter told me that, if he 
were upon oath, he could not rate what he gave you in at less 
than seventy pounds. I was very anxious to hear your own 
statement of this." 

One Letter, 4 to. 6th April, 1818. 

Memoirs, No. 392. 

The last line, omitted by his Lordship. " You saw but one 
thing of mine in the Chronicle." 
One Letter, 4to. 16th June, 1818. 

Memoirs, No. 396. 

Twenty-four lines in the body of the letter omitted by his 
Lordship. " I have had a sad mishap on my way home, which 
I want you to set about remedying for me as immediately as 
possible. I have exchanged portmanteaus with some one on 
the road— a Mr. James Rogerson, as the brass plate on his 
portmanteau shews. My name is also luckily on mine, so that 
I should suppose we shall have but little difficulty in restoring 
our property to each other. What I want you to do is to go 
immediately to the Bull and Mouth Inn (which is the place, 
I believe, where the Shrewsbury Mail puts up), and ask there 
whether a gentleman who arrived in the Mail from Shrewsbury 
yesterday morning had said anything about a mistake in his 
portmanteau, or had left his address there. I left Shrewsbury 



72 

in this Mail and quitted it at Birmingham, where I rather think 
the exchange took place. His portmanteau shall be forwarded 
to him the moment I hear that mine is safe. There are some 
papers of great consequence in mine, besides the whole of my 
wardrobe, which makes me of course very anxious about it. 
Pray, lose no time about this. I send you on the other side a 
draft upon the Longmans for the twenty pounds, which you 
have to pay my landlady on the 18th. Tour brother borrowed 
from Ellen her copy of the National Airs, and, I suppose, 
instantly set to work upon them, as she had not got them back 
when I left Dublin. He says he can play the deuce with you 
for publishing before him — is it so V 

Three Letters, two 4 to., one 12mo., 7th, 16th, 21st January, 
1819. 
" I inclose some Music to go to Birchall's, and a list of 
things I want from him. Do you think it will be too re- 
markable ordering so many National Collections •?" "The 
Quarterly Review is very favourable indeed." " I write to you 
now merely because I promised to do so — not that I have any- 
thing particular to say about the papers For your brother's 
extraordinary estimate upon which the extraordinary affidavits 
were forwarded you had already shewn me in town. There is 
one item, indeed, which (if I could agitate it) will give me some 
trouble, and that is the 56100 for your half the Irish Miscel- 
lany, with which your brother has already charged me, and 
which I am sorry to say, he has been paid. 1 should like to 
have your advice how I ought to proceed with him on this 
point, as if I could get off paying the sum twice over) without, 
however, going to law about it), it would be at least so much 
saved out of the fire. If you and I are to have another agree- 
ment together, I should be glad it was regularly and finally 
arranged, as it would not only enable me to give a decisive 
answer to enquiries on the subject, but would set my mind at 
rest with respect to the tasks and pursuits that are before me. 



73 

I have had no answer from Stevenson to my serious representa- 
tions about the Sacred Songs. I know not therefore what to 
do — to chuse another arranger would be, I perceive, a break up 
for ever — and yet the work must come out." " If you want 
filling up your portmanteau (not otherwise), you may send to 
Lanman the Taylor, at the top of St. James's St., not far from 
the York Hotel, for my Kilkenny coat, which he had to alter." 

Four Letters, two 4to., two 8vo., (one of two sides), 26th Feb- 
ruary, 16th, 18th, and 25th March, 1819. 
" My Tom Crib (upon which you must be very silent, as I 
have gone to the trouble of having the MS. copied before it 
goes to the Printer, in order to enable me to deny it stoutly) is 
nearly ready, and I am yours for the remainder of the year." 
" I send you four Sacred Songs, all (I think) good ones." " I 
have just had a letter from your brother, telling me that he is 
about to open a house in London, and modestly asking me to 
give him the preference in the publication of some of my works! 
I mean to write a last strong letter to Stevenson about this 
number of Sacred Melodies. I heard yesterday from Long- 
mans that the first Edition of Crib (2000 copies) is nearly sold 
already, and they have worked off 2000 more. This is spanking 
work. I hardly expected any sale for it. Mrs. Power will 
be glad to see that I never mean to touch H. R. H. again." 
"I am going to the Harmonic at Bath on Friday." " I tried 
something for the St. Patrick's, because you seemed to wish it 
— but I could not please myself, and it is, I assure you, no loss 
— for there is nothing less respectable than writing Songs for 
these occasions, to be roared out by such fellows as Webbe and 
Broadhurst. My Stewardship will cost me, I dare say, ten 
guineas." Requests Mr. Power to send this ten guineas for 
him to Mr. Tegart, Pall Mall. " Mind, you deny Crib stoutly 
for me. I told the Longmans it would have been better to get 
some inferior bookseller to publish it ; but they had stronger 
hopes from it than I fear will be realized." 



74 

Four Letters, 4to., 7th, 15th, 25th, and 26th April, 1819. 

" I forgot to tell you that I have written to Corry to call 
upon your brother and pay him the £20 which you know 
remained of our account, getting at the same time a receipt in 
fall from him, which I shall be most happy to possess, and 
have done with him for ever." " Did I tell you of the splendid 
reception I met with at the Harmonic in Bath ? my health 
drank, with a nourishing speech from one of the Stewards, and 
three times three. My songs encored over and over, &c. &c. 
It was indeed very flattering." " I send you two Nationals and 
the Song from Croker's book, which I thought you had taken 
away when last here." " I have done a Sacred Song that I 
think beats ' Sound the loud Timbrel,' in the same style. Its 
title is ' War against Babylon.' " We shall be most happy to 
see you at the time appointed. I want your services in the Fish 
line for Friday, as I find I must give a clearing dinner before I 
go to town — so by Thursday's coach, pray do not forget to send 
me a good dish of Salmon, with S?nelts to garnish (if there are 
any), and a lobster or two. If you could be down by Friday 
yourselves you would not be less welcome than the fish to us 
and our guests." Family arrangements, &c. 

Three Letters, 4to. 5 6th May, 16th and 25th June, 1819 

Directions about il a light smart hat" from Bicknell's. " I 
am glad to see that two of our Pieces are performed at the 
Covent Garden Oratorios. But why don't you make them 
announce ■ Hark the Vesper Hymn,' as from Moore's National 
Melodies?" "I was sorry I had not another peep at you 
before I left that racketting town of yours. The quiet I have 
plunged into here is just as much in the other extreme, and 
almost as disagreeable." " I have sent off all my worldly 
wealth to Bessy [Mrs. Moore had gone to Edinburgh, to attend 
her Sister's Marriage with Mr. William Henry Murray, of 
the Theatre Royal Edinburgh, which was solemnized on the 
\9th July, 1819], to enable her to come home, and should 



75 

have been myself upon the Parish or upon you, if it were not 
for the God-send to which the inclosed refers, which Branigan 
has sent wherewith to buy some things for his little girl." 

Two Letters, 4to. (one of three sides), 22nd and 2Sth July, 
1819 

" I have some very gratifying accounts to give you of the 
kind offers that have been made to me — even by some of my 
great friends." 

" The persons I alluded to in my last letter were, in the first 
place, Lord Lansdowne, who wrote immediately to me on seeing 
the statement in the Newspapers, offering to become security 
for me to the amount of the claims, or to do any thing else 
that might be of service. Lord Tavistock, too, wrote down to 
his brother Lord John (who is at Bowood), bidding him enquire 
whether any thing had been done or was doing for me, and 
adding these words — ' I am very poor, but I have always had 
such a strong admiration of Moore's independence of mind, that 
I would willingly sacrifice something to be of use to him.' 
Lord John himself had already begged me to accept the copy- 
right of a book he has just published, as his mite towards my 
extrication. In short, never was any thing more gratifying than 
the zeal every body shews about me. I have just heard from 
Dublin, that the Bishop of Kildare (whom I do not know, even 
by sight) offered to put down £50 himself towards a subscrip- 
tion." Pecuniary arrangements — "The Longmans I must keep 
entirely for my great effort, so that in the mean time I shall 
be quite adrift for the means of subsistence, travelling, &c. 
unless I can raise the wind by the assistance of you or Murray. 
Him I have not tried yet, &c." To Mr. Power Mr. Moore 
apologises for " thus pressing and ' spurring so free a horse ' as 
I have always found you." "I suppose you saw the paltry 
paragraph extracted from that fellow Fitzsimon's paper — 'the 
talented friend' of Lord Donoughmore.' " 



7Q 

Three Letters, two 4to., one 8vo., 3rd, 4th, and 18th August, 

1819 
A Commission for "our neighbours the Phipps's — to send 
down directed to me, by Thursday's Coach, four good lobsters, 
200 prawns, and three German Sausages. They are to have 
a rural pic-nic on Friday, and this supply is for the occasion." 
" Many, many thanks for your kind exertions to assist me. 
There could not be any thing, just at this moment, more con- 
venient, or more full of relief to my little difficulties, than your 
having discharged this last Bill. You see I have attended to 
the hint at the end of your letter (which was according to the 
good old mode of the Commons of England in tacking grievances 
to a Money Bill), and have sent three Nationals, which, I 
think, will all do — at least in the company of their betters," 
&c. " I send back the Sausages, which are pronounced to be 
very bad. You will make the best exchange of them for better 
that you can. The lobsters and prawns were excellent." 
Letter transmitting one of them. Three Letters, 4to. (one of 

two sides), 23rd October, (7th) and 11th November, 

1819 
Florence. " The fact is, I have met with nothing in our 
way since I came to Italy, and they may talk as they will of 
the music one hears in this Country, I can only say, that 
(except an hostler singing * Bi tanti palpiti ' in the Stable Yard 
the other night) I have not heard a sound of any thing like 
popular music since I came." Rome. " I hope to be in Eng- 
land about this day month." " I send as accurate a descrip- 
tion of the times of the Airs [intended for 2nd Number of 
National Melodies'] (which it is a great pity we did not think 
of that evening we revised the whole) as I can possibly make 
out from a recollection of their characters here; and, as I 
observe you are one short of the number, you must only put in 
* How happy once ' as a Swedish Air, and turn my other Air 
into a ' Moorish ' one." 



77 

Three Letters, 4to. (one of three sides with Musical Notation), 
13th, 16th, and 31st December, 1819 
" Just arrived in Paris, safe and sound." "I am ready to 
set about any and every work you may have for me to do. I 
find I must not come to England. The Longmans have written 
to me that it is the opinion of all my friends I should by no 
means think of crossing the water." " I have only time (from 
Chantrey going so much sooner than I expected) to write out 
the first verse of the Song I promised." [Name spelled 
Chauntry.'] " 30, Rue Chanteraine. You will perceive there 
is an alteration in the first verse" ['When thou shalt wander by 
that sweet light,' — sends the two verses]. " I had better write 
out these words with the music on the other side." " After all 
this is a better place to pick up music in than Italy." 

Three Letters, 4to. (one of two sides), 29th January, 8th and 
28th February, 1820 
" I have been in a most wretched state of distraction and an- 
comfort here. Indeed it is the first time since I married that 
my home has been uncomfortable ; for being thrown upon ex- 
ternal supplies for our dinner, &c. and contriving that but ill 
and expensively (from Bessy's powers of management being 
completely nullified by her ignorance of the language), and 
being in the midst of the bustle of a Metropolis, struggling 
against its distractions and its expenses without success, my 
mind I assure you has been kept in a continued state of fever, 
which was not a little increased by the Longmans having 
pledged me to the public for a work of which there are not # 
hundred lines written, and the proceeds of which, you may well 
believe, are essentially necessary to my existence at present. 
However, all this is, I trust, now at an end. I have been lucky 
enough to find a Cottage, just such as you know I like for a 
workshop, within fifteen minutes walk of Paris (indeed hardly 
out of it), to which we take ourselves on Monday next, and out 
of which I shall seldom stir till I have brought up my arrears in 



78 

all directions, to you as well as to others. My address now is, 
No. 11, Allee des Veuves, "Champs Elysees." "Life swarms 
with ills for us all, but they are made much worse by yielding 
to them — therefore, courage ! and hope for better days." 

"You may depend upon having all the third Number 
[National Melodies'] before the end of June." "I doubt 
whether the Irish Melodies would be practicable if I stay in 
Paris. I promise you, however, before the end of the year, a 
sort of Musical Tour, made up of Songs and Poems, which I 
think I shall make something catching of. As to any thing 
about the King for the Oratorio, my heart would not go along 
with it. Such things always do me more harm than good, and 
I have never ceased to regret the Song I threw away in the 
same manner on the Duke of Wellington." 
Four Letters, three 4to., one 8vo., 7th April, 3rd, 19th, 27th 
June, 1820 
"Fudge Family in Italy, which is not to appear." The 
Longmans have been as liberal and considerate under this dis- 
appointment as they are indeed in every matter in which I am 
concerned with them. I should like (if you have no objection) 
to apply the materials which I have for the 3rd Number 
[National Melodies] to my little Musical Tour." " Pray tell 
Mr. Croker that I am delighted with his excellent ideas of sub- 
jects for the Irish Melodies, and that I will answer his letter in 
a very few days." " I find your brother is about to publish the 
words of all the Irish Melodies, and that Mr. Sullivan (who is 
here and informed me of the circumstance) is to write a preface. 
Mr. Sullivan, by the bye, tells me also that the reason of the 
compromise between you and Sir John is the discovery of some 
receipts which were supposed to have been lost by Stevenson, 
and which enabled him to prove some parts of his case against 
you more strongly than before. Is this true?" " I suppose 
you were somewhat alarmed about ns from the exaggerated 
accounts of the "Riots here [Paris] that reached London. All 



79 

is now perfectly quiet." " I sent you three songs by Lady 
Davy, and you have here two more," &c. " My book, after all, 
is not to come out. You shall know why when I write again.'' 

One Letter, 4 th July, 1820 

" The subjects I send you now are both good for designs, there 
are many more verses to ' Who'll buy my love-knots,' but the two 
first would afford an excellent subject to Stothard." " I shall 
give all the assistance in my power towards the publication of 
the words of my Melodies, &c. and by having the work set up 
here, which can be done for eight or ten pounds, the delay and 
trouble of sending proofs backwards and forwards may be 
avoided. I shall also write a short preface for you. We have 
come on a visit to some friends at Sevres (about 5 or 6 miles 
from Paris), who have purchased a beautiful place here, and 
lent us a cottage in their grounds. I shall stay in it as long 
as I can, for it is perfectly quiet, and surrounded with delicious 
scenery, and (tho' last, not least) free of much expense." 

Eight Letters, one folio, five 4to., two 8vo. (one of two sides), 
12th July, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 18th, 21st, 28th, 31st August, 
1820 
La Butte. " I send you three more Songs, which will 
make up the number of twelve National Melodies. I shall con- 
tinue at intervals sending you more, in order that we may 
choose the best, and shall do my best in order to get up a 
number of Irish Melodies for you at the time you mention. 
But I shall want Bunting sent over to me : do not, however, 
send it till you hear further on the subject from me." " I am 
at present living at but little expense, being on a visit to some 
friends, with whom I dare say we shall stay for two months 
longer." "As soon as I receive the Irish Airs I shall set 
lustily about the 8th Number, and in the meantime I hope to 
send you two very pretty Nationals which I have lately got." 
" I send you a National Melody and an Irish one, which I hope 
you will like, though you have become so cautious in expressing 



80 

your opinion of what I send, that it is a very long time since I 
had the satisfaction of knowing whether you approved of them or 
not. I shall go on now as industriously as my materials will let me 
with the Eighth Number, though I must say that the difficulty 
of squeezing it out in this hurried way is such as, under any other 
circumstances, or for any one else, not six times the sum I am 
to get for it would induce me to undertake, and I think you 
know me well enough to be aware that this is no idle flourish." 
" The advertisement had better run thus." [Of the Eighth 
Number of the Irish Melodies being nearly ready for press, and 
the preparation of the letter-press of the whole work in a Volume, 
tvith illustrations']. " I send you two Irish Melodies and a 
National one, which I think you'll own is very industrious." 

Three Letters, 8vo., 3rd, 10th, and 28th September, 1820 

" I have done one more Irish Melody since I wrote, and if I 
am lucky in my operations, hope to be able to send you three 
more by my next dispatch, which will complete the half of our 
Number." " I have been lucky enough to achieve the three 
Irish Melodies in the time I said, which now gives us half our 
Number, and they are all such as may stand. The other 
Bunting will be a great reinforcement to us, as I think I have 
exhausted my present forces. The weather is again delightful, 
and we are still in our beautiful abode at Sevres." " I send 
you three more Irish Melodies. I hope you will admire my 
poetical description of the Poiteen [Drink of this cup.'] It 
strikes me that this number will be, contrary to my first ex- 
pectations, a very good one. I have received the Bunting by 
Ellis."* 
Seven Letters, four 4 to. (one of two sides), two 8vo. (one of 

two sides), one 12mo. (two sides), 5th, 9th, 10th, 

26th, and 31st October, 1820 
" Mrs. Moore bids me tell you (what she knows you will be 

* William Henry Ellis, Esq., an Irish Barrister. 



81 

glad to hear) that her sisfer has just been confined, and is the 
mother of a little boy." « c I send you our tenth Melodv. 
I shall be delighted to do something on the subject of O'Do- 
nohue and his White Horse, but I have not by me the extracts 
which Mr. Croker gave me relating to it. If he should not be 
in London to furnish you with them, pray get Weld's Book on 
Killarney, in which I believe the details may be found, and get 
them copied out for me immediately. I have an air which I 
think would suit the subject/' " By last post I sent you an 
Irish Melody. I am now searching anxiously for an air, at 
once spirited and melancholy, to which I may write some 
words allusive to Grattan. Our National work ought not to 
terminate without some remembrance of him. This and the 
Song upon Donohue will make the twelve. The materials of 
the latter I look to you for." " I am getting on with my 
verses on Grattan, for which I have been lucky enough to find 
a suitable air. They will I flatter myself be no small ornament 
to outnumber. I forgot to say that I think Mr. Croker's de- 
sign for the Title very tasteful and elegant, and that I have no 




82 

change whatever to suggest in it." " I have copied out the 
lines upon Grattan for you, but had not room for the last verse. 
I shall send it to you however with the Music, by the next op- 
portunity ; and hope to have the Song upon Donohue for you 
in the course of next week." Proposes writing verses for a 
work the Music to be selected from Blangini's Notturnes. 
" I send you the remaining verses of the Donohue Song. 
Tell Mr. Croker that he may put the young girl into his draw- 
ing, standing beside the Lake and looking at the visionary 
chieftain in the distance. I intend to say that one of the tra- 
ditions about Donohue is a girl having gone wild and thrown 
herself into the Lake for love of him. You shall have Blan- 
gini the next thing. I have not been very well this week past, 
and rather think that the anxious struggle I am for ever kept 
in between the importunities of society and the effort to be busy 
is beginning to shew itself in the state of my nerves and general 
health. Do you know that Lord John Russell has dedicated the 
second edition of his last book to me, and signed himself my 
• attached friend.' This is truly flattering." 

Three Letters, one 4to., two 8vo. (one of two sides), 6th, 13th, 
and 20th November, 1820 
• I have been obliged to tell Murray and Wilkie fairly, that I 
cannot finish the Life of Sheridan satisfactorily to myself while 
I stay here, and that therefore they must draw upon me for the 
sum which they have advanced upon it. This is very magnifi- 
cent of me, but how I am to manage the magnificence is yet in 
the clouds." " I send you the first verse of my song on 
Donohue [Of all the fair Months']. You had better have a 
sketch made from this subject, representing the Lake of Killar- 
ney and a number of spirits both male and female, gliding 
over it, strewing flowers around them, while a warrior on a 
white horse is seen in a sort of indistinct, visionary way at a 
distance on the water— Consult Mr. Croker about it. By my 
next you shall have the Music of the Grattan Soug, and per- 



83 

haps the remaining verses of Donohue, but you can proceed 
with the Sketch on the description I have given."* " There is 
going to be a grand dinner and ball here in commemoration of 
Lord Liverpool's discomfiture." 

Four Letters, 8vo. (one of two sides), 3rd, 14th, 18th, and 21st 
December, 1820 
" My distractions here, in the way of visitors, &c. increase 
upon me so as to derange very much my progress in writing. 
You come off best of any of my employers, because it is that 
kind of work which can be done at fits and starts, but the 
great task (to which I look for a sweeping sum to meet my 
Bermuda compromise stands still), and unless I can find some 
quieter situation when my time in this house is expired, I don't 
know what is to become of me. Yesterday Lord John Russell 
and Lord Charlemont dined with us. Paris swarms with my 
friends and acquaintances." "That paragraph in the Courier 
was false. I had nothing to do with the proposal for a Public 
Dinner that was in the Reading Rooms." 

Eight Letters, four 4to., four 8vo., 1st, 8th, 11th, 16th, 18th, 
21st, 25th, and 27th January, 1821 
Refers to "an accident which (though of no great conse- 
quence) has confined me to my bed for these three days past, 
and may probably for a few days longer." "The tumour has 
been lanced, and I have to day got to my sopha." " I have 
been busy sending off recommendations for a man [Quere ? 
Sheridan's brother-in-law} who is candidate for an office at 
Dulwich, and wrote to me to use my influence for him." (i I 
still feel a little weak after my confinement." " I have just 
received an invitation to dine with the Duke of Orleans to- 
morrow." "Tell Mr. Croker that I thank him very much for 
his remarks. He is right as to ' again', it having been put by 

* A Drawing in Sepia of this subject was made by Mr. Martin, but it has 
never been engraved, and remains in Mr. Power's family. 

G 2 



84 

mistake instead of ' once more,' and you will have the goodness 
to have the latter words inserted in place of ' again' The 
other passage he has remarked is no mistake, but quite as I in- 
tended it. It may be possibly, however, obscure to others as 
well as to him, and, therefore, had better be put thus 
' howe'er the world may shake 
It's inmost core/ 
You will see that this is carefully done/'* 

* See, the Song of " Thee, thee, only thee," in the Irish Melodies, where 
this passage now stands— 

" howe'er the world may wake 
Its grief, its scorn," — 

The Air Staca an Mharaga (the Market Stake), to which Mr. Moore's 
words are adapted, was popular in Ireland as a Jacobite Song — and Mr. 
Crofton Croker appears to have sent the Music of it to Mr. Power, with a 
humourous letter informing him that Lord Byron's Hebrew Melodies having 
proved to be " out and out failures," his Lordship was trying his hand upon 
some Irish Songs, and had " written the following verses to a tune made by 
an old blind Irish bagpiper named HefFernan," whom he had engaged on 
the joint recommendation of Sir John Stevenson and Mr. Bunting to be his 
travelling accompanyment in Greece. Mr. Power sent on this letter to Mr. 
Moore, and the use made of it by Moore is perhaps the most extraordinary 
instance of the beauty of parody in existence — 

Scene — The Cidee Cellar. 
Time, from seven in the evening till four in the morning. 
Harmonized for the solemn voices of four Irish Law Students. 

The closing of day — the candle's blinking, 
The morning's dawn — still finds me drinking 
Of gin — gin, only gin.* 

* Ginnestan is the name given in Persia to an ideal intoxicating region 
inhabited by Jins or Demons (e^")> and as clearly demonstrates the affinity 
of the Erin of the West with the Iran of the East, as the Sunny Persian 
Shamrack connects itself with the Shamrock of " The Emerald Isle." 



85 

Five Letters, one folio, four 4to., 9th, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 19th 
February, 1821 
"I have written to Stevenson by this clay's post to say how sur- 
prised," &c. " We are to have a great dinner here on Patrick's 
day. I am to be in the Chair, and either Lord Miltown, o r 
Lord Charlemont to be my Vice." " I believe I told you in a 
letter some time ago, of my being introduced to Mr. Canning at 
his own request. I dined with him again on Friday last." [This 
letter received on the \4th February, is dated Jan. 8, 1821.] 
" I wish, when you have an opportunity, you would send me 
copies (handsomely bound) of the two Numbers of National 
Melodies for Mademoiselle the Duke of Orlean's sister." 

When friends are met, and plates are laid, 

And supper-time is fast approaching, 
Uncheer'd by all the board's parade, 

My soul like tapster dreams of broaching 
The gin — gin, only gin. 
Whatever in art might wake the palate 
To suppers, gout, there's no such sallad 

As gin — gin, only gin. 
Like spice, by which some cook fran<jois 

To simple dish can give a relish ; 
Sermons and suppers, grave or gay, 
Are swallowed down in places Hellish, 
For gin— gin, only gin. 
I have not a thought, but of thy waking, 
And pain is half forgot when taking 
Sweet gin — gin, only gin. 
Like Venice glass that topers break, * 

When lips have quaff' d the Wine within it ; 
This heart, as any glass is weak, 

And breaks in just as brief a minute 
For gin — gin, only gin. 



* In Italy, after drinking a patriotic toast, it was customary to dash the 
glass upon the ground, in order that it should not be profaned by other lips. 
In Ireland the custom of throwing empty bottles at one another's heads is not 
unusual, and by a duck or luck they are sometimes broken against the wall. 



86 

Seven Letters, four folio, three 4to., 6th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 23rd, 
27th, and 30th Marth, 1821 
" I do not quite like the way ' Thee, Thee,' is done. You'll 
see my remarks on the music." " At the end of April we go 
to our new cottage." Blangini's Notturni. " You need not 
wait for an Advertisement to the 8th Number [Irish Melodies] 
as, for reasons J shall tell you in my nest, I do not mean to put 
any." « Mr. Charles Sheridan will send you a packet, which 
was undone at the Custom House, but the articles are to be 
distributed thus. The workbox for your Bessy, the puzzle for 
James, the yellow fan for Mary, and the white one to be folded 
up and directed to Miss Tegart, Pall Mall, with Mrs. Moore's 
compliments. I suppose you have no objection to my beginning 
another Number of the Nationals for you forthwith. Lord 
John, I think lives in Stanhope Street, but you can inquire at 
Lord Tavistock's in Arlington Street." 

Five Letters, one folio, two 4 to., two 8vo., 5th, 12th, 16th, 
24th, and 27th April, 1821 
"If Perry puts in the lines I inclose (they are about Naples, 
and dated Champs Elysees), pray send a copy of the paper 
directed to Miss Dalby, Castle Donington, Cavendish Bridge, 
Leicestershire." "The book is magnificent, and worthy of the 
most royal hands ; though I almost grudge it to her Highness, 
and shall at least have the showing of it to every one else before 
I let her have it." "I was very glad to find my account with 
you (for the first time, I believe) creditable for me in every 
sense of the word." w x\s soon as Lord Byron's tragedy is out, 
pray send it to me through Mr. Greville, — don't forget this." 

Eight Letters, one irregular size, five 4to., two 8vo. (both of 

two sides). 1st, 3rd (two), 5th, 8th, 10th, 22nd, and 

29th|May, 1821 

" I send you a National Melody, which I think you will like, 

and pray keep Mr. Bishop's learning down as much as you 

can." " My money goes from me most rapidly in this change 



87 

of residence." " We have been working hard at all sorts of 
gaiety this week past." " I have just received a most flattering 
letter from Mademoiselle d'Orleans, with the present of a clock 
for my chimney-piece — so you see what the splendid binding 
has done." "She [Miss Power'] dined with us yesterday at 
our neighbours the Villamil's to meet some French Princesse s 
and Countesses." " Pray let me have Bowles's answer to 
Lord Byron, just published — and will you tell my friend 
Thomas Campbell (who I rejoice to hear is become very well 
acquainted with you), that I shall answer his letter by next 
post." 

Three Letters, one 4to. two 8vo. (one of three, the other of two 

sides). 4th, two (received?) and 10th June, 1821 

Sends the additional verses to {i Who'll buy my love knots ?" 

" You seem to wish that I should work double tides this year, 

and indeed my expenses here will make it necessary — for I am 

still too near the shoal of friends I have in Paris, and the 

hospitalities I am obliged to exercise (as Jane will tell you) 

impose a tax upon me, which if I stay beyond this year in 

France, I am determined not to incur again." " Bessy begs 

you will contrive to bring her back from Ireland a tabbinet gown, 

purple, and it would also gratify her very much if you could 

find leisure some Sunday to go and see our poor Barbara's 

grave, and give a few shillings to the Sexton to keep it in good 

order. You will, of course, not mention in your letter to me if 

you should find it in a bad or ruinous state, but do what is 

necessary towards repairing it, and tell Bessy it is quite as ifc 

should be. As soon as I have got through the fourth Number 

of Nationals, I shall I think attempt something of the dramatic 

kind, we once mentioned, for private performance." "I wish 

to have the duett, * Our first young love resembles,' (Blangini) 

dedicated to Mrs. Villamil," (of La Butte Coaslin). "Your 

brother's proceeding with respect to the 8th Number is, to be 

sure, most daring." 



88 

Four Letters, two 4to., two 8vo. (one of two sides). 16th, 
20th, 21st, and 29th July, 1821 
" I take for granted this will find you still in Dublin." Mrs. 
Moore has gone "into Wiltshire, to see my books deposited in 
some safe place upon the giving up of our cottage there, which 
will henceforth only be let with land — an undertaking I, of 
course, should not wish to embark in." "I am sorry to find 
that the double tide working which I proposed for this year 
will press too hard upon you." " If I can finish pretty soon 
a great work I am about, I shall have plenty of money this 
next year." " I most anxiously hope that your business in 
Dublin will be settled satisfactorily, and (what must be a great 
object to you) speedily"* " Between ourselves, I am just now 

* DUBLIN ROLLS COURT— July 24 avd 25, 1821. 
J. Power v. W. Power. 

On the 3rd of July, Tames Power, of the Strand, London, music seller, 
obtained an injunction to restrain William Power, of Westmoreland-street, 
Dublin, from publishing a pirated edition of the Eighth Number of Moore's 
Irish Melodies ; the said James Power having the sole property in the 
above-mentioned work, by deed of assignment from Thomas Moore, Esq., 
the author. On the 17th inst Mr. O'Connell, on behalf of W. Power, 
moved the Court to dissolve the injunction. 

The decision of the Court was, that the injunction should remain undis- 
turbed till the case was argued. 

This important case came on yesterday and the day before, to be argued on 
its merits, before his honour the Master of the Rolls. 

It appeared from the statement of Counsel on the side of the plaintiff, that 
he had entered into an engagement with Mr. Moore in the year 1811, for a 
period of seven years, the latter covenanting to supply the former with one 
number of Irish Melodies and certain other works specified, for the considera- 
tion of an annuity of ,£500, which was to be paid him by plaintiff. In 1812 
plaintiff entered into an agreement by deed with defendant, by which he gave 
him the licence of publishing Moore's Works in Ireland solely, in considera- 
tion of defendant paying him 2-5ths of said annuity; said deed to be con- 
sidered null and void whensoever the defendant should fail to pay- his quota 
of annuity to plaintiff. On the expiration of the seven years, after 6ome time 



89 

negotiating the sale of Lord Byron's Memoirs, which you know 
he made me a present of, and which he is anxious I should turn 
to account in a pecuniary way. I have asked two thousand 
pounds for them. They would be worth three times that, if 
they were to be published immediately, but they are not to 
appear till after Lord B's death, which makes a great difference, 
I am, however, determined to sell them to the best bidder. 
This of course you will keep to yourself." Sends communica- 
tion from Professor Momigney " who is anxious to be employed 
by you." " I wish you to get me a few hundred more of those 
papers for my books struck off." " I have not been able yet 
to see Madame de Broglie, about Knyvett's Air (as he chooses 

plaintiff entered into a new agreement with Mr. Moore for a further term of 
six years, under which agreement, and in this present year, the Eighth Num- 
ber of the Melodies, which forms the subject under litigation, was delivered 
by Mr. Moore to plaintiff, and by him published as his sole property, which 
appeared by deed of assignment as well as by the regular deed of agreement. 
The defence set up by W. Powell was, that he in fact was the sole proprietor 
of all Moore's Melodies, and that plaintiff had no right to publish them even 
in England, without his concurrence and approbation ; but he totally failed 
in shewing any written document whatever in support of his assertion. His 
case was ably argued by Messrs. Joy, O'Connell, and Bennet, who displayed 
much ingenuity, by arguing on the assertions of the Solicitor upon facts 
which were not contained in the pleadings. 

The plaintiff's case was argued with great clearness and talent by the 
Solicitor- General, Mr. Plunkett, and Mr. Adair. 

The Master of the Rolls, in giving his decision, said, that the defendant had 
set up two defences, neither of which were tenable. The plaintiff had estab- 
lished his title by the production of the assignment from Mr. Moore, in whom 
the property was vested, from his having written the work himself, it would be 
very injurious to the copyright of literary productions, if an injunction should 
be withheld from the plaintiff, who claims his right by virtue of such deed, 
when the defendant has no written document to substantiate his claim, nor is 
there a word of the existence of such document sworn to or set forth in the 
pleadings. He concluded by saying, that he would give an order that the 
injunction obtained by Mr. James Power in this case, should stand unmoved, 
till the defendant should shew any legal title to the work before a court of law. 



90 

to call it). It was she who danced to it five or six years ago, 
and called it a Cossack Dance. How long is Knyvett's Glee 
published? Knyvett's originality is a ticklish subject, and 
he had better not make a stir about it." Note of introduc- 
tion for Doctor Williams to Mr. Power. 

Four Letters, three 4to., one 8vo., 6th and 13th August, 3rd 
and 17th September, 1821 
" As to the Air claimed by Knyvett, I have been able to 
learn no more than I have communicated in my letter to you 
some weeks since. But if his composition appeared but within 
these three years, I can safely swear that I heard the Cossack 
Air five or six years since. I will however write to Madame 
cle Broglie on the subject. I inclose six National Melodies, 
almost all of which I think lucky ones— set Bishop to work." 
" You are welcome back to London. I am not yet decided as to 
the incognito trip I mentioned to you." •' I mean to leave 
this on my incog, trip about Wednesday next, so that I shall 
arrive in London on Saturday or Sunday. You will lose no 
time in sending the inclosed note to Rogers's housekeeper. I 
mean to sleep there but shall board with you." 

Two Letters, one 4to., one 8vo., 2nd and 22nd October, 1821 

" St. James's Place. Here I am again, and mean to come 
to you as soon as I have written some letters." signed T. Dyke. 
" I shall come to Buckingham Street, early, and will dine with 
you, if it suits me." 

Four Letters, two 4to., two 8vo., 2nd, 15th, 27th and 29th No- 
vember, 1821 
" Salisbury, Thursday, four o'clock. I have been put out 
of my accustomed line of Coaches by being obliged to paya 
visit at some distance from Calne, and though I have but little 
doubt of getting a place in some of the Night-Coaches, yet as 
ill luck may come across me, I just write this line to tell you 
my situation in order that you may know why I do not appear 



91 

at dinner, and prevail on Mr. Bishop to meet me at breakfast 
on Saturday." "I send you the second verse of 'Bright be 
thy dreams/ I merely have written the Notes, without mark- 
ing the time as I do not well remember it." li I inclose the 
last proofs. We certainly have no reason to complain of 
Bishop's display of his science this time." " In my next I 
hope to be able to tell you about ' Hark, the Vesper Hymn,' as 
Madame de Broglie is in Paris." 

Six Letters, one 4to., five 8vo., 10th, 13th, 17th, 24th, and 

27th December, 1821 
" I have enquired of Madame de Broglie about the Air, and 
she cannot give me any farther account of it than that she 
heard it in France as a Cossack Air, and always considered it 
as such. But I think you have nothing else to do than to 
assert stoutly that it is a Russian Air, and let Knyvett prove 
that it is not." Refers to Perry's death. " I am therefore 
obliged to draw upon you through Lafitte, till I can arrange 
something of the same kind with my friend Kinnaird, to whom 
I write by this day's post." " Madame de Broglie is not an 
Opera Dancer, but a Duchess, and it was in private society I 
saw her dance that tune about seven or eight years ago. You 
may call ' Row gently here,' a Venetian Air." " I send back 
the proofs. These two Duetts are very beautifully done, and 
the symphony to 'When first that smile,' is beautiful." " 1 
return the last proof with my benediction— may the work 
prosper!" " You shall soon have some grist for the Musical 
Mill." 

Five Letters, one 4 to., four 8vo., undated (1821) 

" Keep my coming as secret as you can — too many here 
know it." " My Mother some time ago sent a bottle of eye- 
water to you for me. I hope it has come safely to your hands 
and that you will be able to forward it to me by some early 
opportunity. Will you tell the Longmans to send to Villamil 
by whatever mode they can manage it, ' The theory of the 



92 

projection of Rockets by Colonel Congreve." " You saw the 
poem of Lord Byron to me correctly (since you wrote) in the 
Chronicle and Examiner." " I am at present working as hard 
as the world will let me to patch up the work I wrote a year or 
two ago (Rhymes on the Road) for publication this Spring, in 
order to meet the heavy debt the Longmans have against me 
and get rid of the Insurance." 

Seven Letters, one 4to., five 8vo., (two of two sides) one 12mo. 

7th, 14th, 21st, 22nd, 24th, 28th and 31st January, 

1822 
"With reference to Mr. Kinnaird — " You will see by his 
letter (which I inclose) that the sort of credit he offers me is 
no additional accommodation whatever, as Lafitte just * as 
readily cashes my Bills upon you as they would on Ransom ; 
and the only difference Kinnaird's plan would make consists in 
its being more round-about and troublesome." " I am at pre- 
sent driven to meet more than my usual scale of expenditure — 
so much so that I think it will be prudent (from every consi- 
deration) to sacrifice two months rent of my lodgings and re- 
turn to England in March instead of May as I first intended. 
A good Summer of application in England will give me an 
overflowing purse once more, and in the mean time I know I 
may rely upon you to help in keeping my chin above water." 
" I am not left one minute to myself here." " Will you have 
the goodness to look among the books and things of mine sent 
to you from Mr. Rogers, for a Manuscript book called ' Mrs. 
Brown's Album, and send it immediately to Murray. He and 
I have got into a scrape about this trumpery volume," &c. 
" Have you ever done anything about those MSS. of John 
Brown's that are in your hands? I hope you have got them 
copied, as otherwise we shall be called upon for the originals 
suddenly and lose them entirely. Indeed they ought to have 
been in his sister's possession long before now." — "I suppose 
you know Stevenson is in London." " I cannot do anything 



93 

here, and I mean to bolt for London in about a month or six 
weeks." " How could you suppose, my dear Sir, that I meant 
to compare what Bishop has done to your brother's piracy of 
the Eighth Number 1 I must have been very ingenious indeed 
to find out any resemblance between the two transactions. No, 
I alluded to Stevenson's continuation of the Irish Melodies 
with another Poet, for which both he and your brother (though 
cast off by us) thought necessary to apologize to me, and I 
compared it to Bishop's having done the very same sort of 
thing (though our ally) without thinking it necessary to make 
any apology at all. As to his statement about Golding, lam 
much inclined from what I have heard, to doubt it, as I have 
reason to think that the plan was arranged between him and 
young Bailey in one of his last year's visits to Bath." 

Four Letters, one 4to., two 8vo., one 12mo. } 3rd and 

February, 4th and 21st March, 1822 
" I seem destined to have all my little plans for quiet and 
comfort disturbed. The Smiths are leaving La Butte (Mrs. S. 
not finding it agree with her health), and now if I go to the 
cottage it will be subject to the chance of being turned out by 
the new tenant, whoever it may be. Meantime our furniture, 
my books, writing things, &c. are gone out there. I know not 
what to do, for I cannot afford to take any other place, and 
this is full of inconvenience." " Few things could give me 
more pleasure than those symptoms (however slight) of a re- 
conciliation between you and Stevenson ; as nothing has given 
me more pain, since I knew you, than the interruption of har- 
mony (in every sense of the word) which your difference with 
him has produced among us. You will be sorry to hear that, 
after having arranged for the retaking of our cottage, and for 
Bessy's departure in about ten days in order to get it ready for 
me, we have just learned that the ' old Victualler ' (as Lord 
Lansdowne calls him) has again got possession of it, and we 
are ousted, I suppose, for ever. This disconcerts my plans 



94 

amazingly." " I forgot last time to tell you that I had re- 
ceived the 3rd Number, and like it exceedingly. I only hope 
the public will be of my opinion about it. I have secured the 
copyright [in France'] of the words both of this and the second 
Number by having a few copies printed." " Lord John 
Russell receives and franks my letters for my Mother." " I 
am still in hopes that I shall be able to start for England about 
the latter end of next week, but it depends upon what the 
Longmans do with respect to the Bermuda claim." 

Five Letters, four 4to., one 8vo., 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, and 11th 

April, 1822 

" There is as yet no letter from Longmans, and I almost 

fear there will be some obstacle to my going — at least to reside 

in London." " Still no letter to decide about returning." 

" Inclosed is the letter from Longmans, which you will see 

dooms me to further banishment." " I mean to start at all 

hazards for London about Saturday next, and shall set to work 

with Bishop for you till it is finished. Say nothing, however, 

about my coming, as it may perhaps be dangerous." " Not a 

line from anybody — my lodgings are half dismantled. I have 

just packed off my fine clock to be sent to England. My 

rooms are full of packing cases ; and I have all the uncomforta- 

bleness of going without being able to decide whether I shall 

go or not. The person to whom the Villamils have let La 

Butte (Smith, Lord Carrington's brother) has offered us our 

Pavilion for the summer in the kindest manner." " I mean to 

start on Saturday." 

Six Letters, three 4 to., three 8vo. (one of two sides), 9th, 20th, 

21st, 23rd, 27th, and 28th May, 1822 

" Direct to me at ' La Butte Coaslin a Sevres, Paris/ " 

" The worst of it all is, too, the delay and difficulty I find in 

getting any sort of a quiet apartment to fly to. All are so dear, 

so noisy, so diabolical. Curse the place altogether. I am 



95 

determined to make any sacrifice to be able to live in England 
once more." "The £ 100 I draw for (your name is a tower of 
strength to me), shall not fall upon your shoulders when due ; 
no, not if there is a stiver to be raised upon all Parnassus. 
Seriously, I was in hopes not to be obliged to draw upon you 
for some months to come, and the Bill shall be renewed when 
due." "I have found a lodging for the summer (19, Rue 
Basse Passy, a Paris) dear enough you may suppose, from the 
season being so far advanced — but I was glad enough after all 
my distractions to get anything." Stewardship at Literary 
Fund. 

Seven Letters, one 4to., four 8vo., two 12mo., 3rd, 6th, 1 7th, 
25th, 27th, 28th, and 30th June, 1822 
" I wish you would send to Longmans' for Keppel Craven's 
account of the Revolution of Naples." " I am sorry to see 
that Bishop's music to Coleman's Opera is not highly spoken 
of. It seems, however, to succeed." " I have hardly strength 
to hold my pen with the excessive heat of the weather. The 
thermometer has been most of these days above 90, and if it 
goes on increasing as the summer advances, I don't know how 
we shall bear it." " I am just now writing post in order to 
get a Poem out which I have begun (or rather begun to finish) 
lately, upon finding that Lord Byron had taken the same sub- 
ject, and I want if possible to have mine published before his. 
Do not say a word about this, as Longmans expect quite a dif- 
ferent thing from me, and I do not mean to tell them how I 
am employed till ready to go to press." " I have been revising 
very anxiously the Sacred Songs, and I am sorry to tell you 
that it is impossible for me to let them appear as they are. 
There must be at least five or six new ones to make this Volume 
at all what it ought to be." " I am very quiet here and work- 
ing away I trust prosperously." " I have had a most doleful 
letter from Count de Lagarde," &c. 



96 

Four Letters, one 4to., three Svo. (one of four sides), 5th, 8th, 
12th and 1 8th July, 1822 
" You know the way used to be that if I struck out a sym- 
phony to my own Songs, well and good ; but that if not, Ste- 
venson supplied me." Mentions his article on the Fathers in 
the Edinburgh Review. " I forget the Number, but it is one of 
the year 1817, I think." "You seem doomed to disappoint- 
ments of every kind. That Air (which I had not the slightest 
idea was Bishop's) has been floating in my memory for many, 
many years." " I am glad that you are able to print Bishop's 
air." "When I was in London (this is entirely between our- 
selves) Jeffrey offered if I would come to give me half of the 
Edinburgh Review. This would be, I understand, between 
seven and eight hundred a year to me, and would not take, I 
should think, more than a month's labour out of every 
quarter. If you should find, in a little time, your agreement 
too burdensome, I have strong ideas of accepting Jeffrey's offer. 
I have had also, within these three days, through Brougham, 
a proposal which (though I cannot accept of it) flatters me 
exceedingly. It is that I should replace the present powerful 
Editor of the Times (who is ill) in writing the leading Article 
for that paper. It was proposed to pay me at the rate of twelve 
hundred a year, but being thought capable of wielding such a 
potent political machine as the Times, was, I own, what pleased 
and flattered me most in the transaction — the more perhaps 
from my feeling conscious that I do not deserve it. I have 
written to decline the offer, but pray do not breathe a syllable 
about it to any one." 

Seven Letters, 8vo., 1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th — 19th, and 29th August, 

1822 

" Thank you very cordially for your last friendly letter and 

the kind assurances it contained, which in my present situation 

are, I assure you, very comfortable to me." "That letter 



97 

which you sent me by the post was the proposal from Brougham 
I mentioned to you about the Times. It came quite safe." 
" Soon after I received your notification of Bishop's arrival I 
went in quest of him, and thinking Miss Stephens was a person 
most likely to know where he was, I called there and left my 
address for him. Accordingly he came out here yesterday, and 
I find it is his intention to stay some time in the neighbourhood 
of Paris, though he talks of going 'for a month's shooting with 
Kalkbrenner' about a hundred miles off. This I suppose, how- 
ever, is only ' a flourish of trumpets.' I will try and keep him 
to his intention of doing the Nationals here," &c. "Bishop 
dined with us on Saturday to meet the Forsters, and we passed 
a very agreeable day of it." "I had a long letter from Lord 
Lansdowne the other day, chiefly on the subject of Sloperton 
Cottage, which there appears another chance of our having, if 
we chuse. I cannot resist quoting a paragraph of it, to show 
you how very kind he is. ' I can only say that if an address 
from all the neighbours of Sloperton could recall you, you 
would speedily receive one, of the most cordial and affectionate 
hind, and in which the inhabitants of Bowood would certainly 
not be behind hand? " 

Seven Letters, two 4to., four 8vo. (one of two sides), one l2mo. 

5th, 9th, 15th, 17th, 26th, and two undated, September, 

1822 

ls \ am very near the end of my Poem." — Bishop's eccentric 

movements in Paris. His rapidity of composition exemplified. 

Allusion to the " thoroughly Miss's Work, or (as we might 

have called it) the Miss's Manual,"— (one song is perhaps a 

little too free) : " ' My heart and lute is also done.' " " I have 

just heard from Rees, who tells me there is hardly a doubt of 

my being free to come over to England in a few weeks hence. 

Whatever may be my steps with respect to taking of Sloperton 

Cottage, I mean to pass the rest of next winter near London." 

u I shall wait with some anxiety your answer to my last. Mv 

H 



98 

situation is rather puzzling. I could have the house I am in now 
for six months more at so low a price as twenty pounds, which, 
contrasted with the expense of moving to England, staggers my 
resolves considerably." "Pray inquire if my clock has ar- 
rived," " As the time approaches for our change of quarters, I 
confess the operation appears so formidable as almost to frighten 
me. I could manage to totter on here well enough, but the 
radical clearing out from this and establishing myself anew in 
England will take such lots of money as I know not how I am 
to achieve. One of my plans of finance must be the drawing 
upon you," &c. " I am literally on my beam ends in the way 
of supply, and nothing but an economical country life and hard 
work will right me again. As my task during the winter 
months will be prose (Sheridan's Life) I shall be better able to 
work for you, than if it were (as has been the case lately) a 
drain on the poetical stores of my brain." 

Eight Letters, 8vo. (one of two and one of three sides), — 7th, 
I Oth, 14th, 20th, 21st, 24th, 28th Ocotober, 1822 

"Iara still suspending my final resolution till I hear from 
the Longmans and from you more fully." " I have ventured 
to tell the Longmans that I thought you would have no objec- 
tion to join them in any arrangement they might make about 
those Irish poems." " lam still without answers from you or 
the Longmans with respect to the very urgent subject of my 
supplies for going or indeed even for staying. Out of the last 
hundred I was obliged to pay between fifty and sixty pounds 
for a Medal of Grattan, [by Galle], which I was rash enough 
to undertake here, and by which (though I shall not ultimately 
lose), I am for the moment inconvenienced a good deal." " As 
to continuing the Irish Melodies, you so perfectly deserve that 
I should sacrifice a little of my own judgment and feelings on 
the subject to your wishes, that if it is really an object with you 
to go on with them, I shall most readily consent to it, and (I 



99 

need not add) exert myself to make them as much as possible 
worthy of their predecessors." 
Four Letters, two 4to. (one of two sides) one 8vo., 14th, 17th 
(two), and — November, 1822 
"The Dinner to me has gone off most splendidly, and I am 
now in all the bustle of departure." Sends three verses com- 
mencing : 

" Then be it so — if back to heaven." 
And two verses : 

" Come, pray with me, my Angel love." 
Referring to a bill drawn on Mr. Power, Mr. Moore writes — 
" By the time the Bill is due, I shall have, please God (and 
the Angels), abundance to meet it. I mean to start in the 
morning.' " You shall soon have Irish Melodies. I have 
come off very well with all the Reviews except that in the Lon- 
don Magazine, whose violence luckily defeats its purpose — I 
think I know the reason of this attack." 
Seven Letters, 4to., six undated, one "Thursday Night," 1822 
" I have but just time (having been all day at a Meeting for 
the unfortunate Irish, where I have been put upon the Com- 
Tnittee) to inclose," &c. " I congratulate you on the decision 
I have seen in the Papers." " I have not felt quite well for 
some days past, and a letter which my friend Lord John has 
just brought me from the Longmans, and which shews how 
very languidly and hopelessly the Bermuda negociation is going 
on, by no means adds to my state of spirits. However, if it be 
my doom to be an exile for the rest of my life, I must only 
make up my mind to it— the only thing I am impatient of, is 
the suspense." 
Six Letters, four 4 to., franked by the Marquis of Lansdowne, 
John Benett, and E. G. Stanley, two 8vo. (one of two 
sides), 4th, 9th, 15th, 17th, 22nd, and 29th January, 
1823 
" Those abominable tailors did not send me my Coat for last 

h 2 



100 

night's Fancy Ball, and I was put to great difficulties by the 
want of it." " How famously my Angels are getting on ! In 
about a week more they will have paid off my debt of <g£1000 
to Longmans." " I am only apprehensive lest the efforts of 
John Bull and such respectable leaders of the public taste 
should succeed in raising a cry of impiety against it, which 
(no matter whether deserved or not) is sure to do me mischief." 
" I don't know whether Mrs. Power told you of a plan I had 
for a Collection of vocal pieces, to be set by different com- 
posers — a sort of Soiree in the East, where girls of different 
nations sing the songs of their countries." " I shall, as you 
wish it, immediately set about rummaging my old stock of Irish 
Melodies for another Number, and need not say that I shall 
endeavour (for my fame sake) to make it as good as the mate- 
rials left will allow me." " I am called upon to revise for a 
fifth edition of the Angels. This makes 6000 copies sold in 
little more than a month, and pays off my debt of ^81000 to 
the Longmans. But I am still left pennyless amidst it all." 
" You see I am in want of music paper, and have been obliged 
to tear a pretty book — so send me some of all sizes." 

Mr. Moore to Mr. Power. Three Letters, two 4to., one 8vo., 

12th, 18th, and Sunday, February 1823 

" I have made a very pathetic duett of the Irish Country 

Dance Cumwillian."* "I wish you could get Stevenson over. 

If you have any channel by which we could come at particulars 

of the life of Carolan, Jackson, &c. it would be a very nice ad- 

* Printed in the Ninth Number of the Irish Melodies, Cummilum, to which 
Mr. Moore has adapted his sparkling lyric, " Fairest put on a while." The 
melody was the composition, about 1770, of Francis Ganey, a Piper retained 
in the Gibbins' family, and was called by him " The humours of Gibbins- 
town,"— the family seat, about three miles South of Charleville. It received 
its name of Comhallaim, which is the Irish for a foster-brother, from the late 
Doctor Gibbins (the father of the present Viscountess Combermere), speaking 
in the Musical Society of Cork of this tune as composed by his nurse's son. 



101 

dition to our next number to prefix some sort of Memoir of 
those celebrated Irish Composers. Think of this, I shall write 
to-day to Paris about it, as Sir J. Burke (who is now there) told 
me, if I mistake not, that Carolan was piper or harper to one of 
his ancestors." " Pray tell Mr. Croker, how much I thank 
him for the Transactions of the Irish Society, and that I shall 
be most grateful to him if he will keep me and the Melodies in 
mind during his studies on the subject. I hope you are pleased 
with the Review in the Quarterly. It will do the latter num- 
bers good, in particular, and though I have never condescended 
to quote testimonies from Reviews, yet there is one sentence in 
this article which I think you ought to insert in your next Ad- 
vertisement of the Letter Press Melodies. It is this * We are 
of opinion that the fame of Mr. Moore will ultimately rest upon 
his productions in this style of writing ; because however great 
his merit in others, this is the style in which he has never been 
exceeded, and it is highly probable he never will be.' See the 
last Quarterly Review.'" 

Four Letters, three 4to. (one of two sides), one 8vo., 1st, 7th, 
9th, and 17th March, 1823 
" I must trouble you to make enquiries at all the Bucking- 
ham Streets in London for me — the French Bed that was 
coming to us (a present), and which was put on board at Calais 
on the 23rd of December has never (that I know of) been heard 
of since. It was directed I find, to Mr. Moore, Depute (Mem- 
ber of Parliament), 22, Buckingham Street, without adding 
Strand." [Mr. Power's private residence.'] " There will also 
be some things left at your house from Paris, by Sadi Omback 
(a gentleman with a turban,)" &c. "The poem you have 
marked in the Literary Gazette is an evident imitation of the 
Melologue, but not very well calculated for Music."* "In 
my last letter to you there were two important things I omitted 

* Entitled ff the Enchantress," and signed Isabel. 1 March. 



102 

— one was my sincere congratulations on the termination (and 
more than all, such an honorable termination) of your law-suit 
in Dublin — the other was, with respect to your wish of an- 
nouncing a new Number of the Irish Melodies, which I cannot 
of course have the least objection to." 

Three Letters, one folio, one 4to., one 8vo. ; 2nd and 16th May, 
30th June, 1823 
" I have had a most stupid cold in head and chest since I 
came down, which even this Summer weather does not seem 
inclined to take away." " I am reading for my Greek work 
which I shall get on with as fast as possible. The correction 
of the Sacred Songs is a most unlucky interruption to it, as 
there is nothing I take so much time about as the dull work of 
correcting." " I do not know how my Fables are going on. 
There were 3000 copies in the first Edition, and Longmans' 
last week expected to be soon called upon for a Second. I 
have never counted upon a great sale of this book, as the want of 
personality makes it much less generally attractive than my 
former squibs. But I have presumed upon it to the amount of 
between three and four hundred pounds, and if it pays that I 
shall be satisfied." 

Four Letters, two 4to. (one of three and one of two sides), two 
Svo. (ditto, and a song in 4 to. as an inclosure), 11th, 
16th, 17th, and 22nd July, 1823 
Details accident to his pony carriage and party who were 
driving in it. {i You have now the whole history of this trans- 
action, and this fate of my first attempt at an equipage is I 
think a broad hint to me that I never was intended for one." 
u As I rather think the year I am now entering upon will be the 
last of my Lyric life, I shall try to put you in good humour 
with me at parting, by making my farewell strains as many and 
as good as I can." " I shall send you what I think a very 
pretty song, and (on the other side) some words which I began 



103 

and which (if Bishop will condescend to set them) I shall 
finish." Sends three verses of 

" When Love, who rul'd as Admiral o'er 
His rosy Mother's isles of light," &c. 
"I have changed my mind about going first to London, it 
would take so much more of my time and money (neither of 
which I can well spare), that I mean to start direct from this for 
Birmingham/' " I need not tell you that what I send is not a 
sacred song —it will speak for itself I think rather gaily." 
Incloses four verses of " Child's Song," 

" I have a garden of my own," &c. 
" Let me know what you think by a line to 96, Abbey Street." 
Two Letters, one 4to., one 8vo. (two sides), Cork, 2nd August, 
Sloperton, 29th August, 1823 
" I left Dublin with Lord and Lady Lansdowne, on Wednes- 
day. We slept the first night at Kilkenny, the second at Lis- 
more Castle (the Duke of Devonshire's), and last night arrived 
here."* " I arrived here yesterday evening after the pleasantest 

* Extract of a letter from Cork addressed to Mr. Power by John O'Dris- 
col, Esq. "Moore has been here; after an absence of five years he has 
revisited Ireland, and now for the first time beholds "the sweet South" of 
that country with which his name has become popularly associated in Song. 
He visited us in company with the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne, 
with whom I had the pleasure of breakfasting. The party are on their way 
to Kerry, where you are aware that his Lordship has large estates. They 
visited the Porter Brewery of Messrs. Beamish and Crawford, and Moore was 
much amused at the old Cork joke of the nursery maid's reply to the question, 
whose child is that ? " Beamish and Crawford's, Sir." He spoke of our friend 
little Crofton Croker, who he said was full of capital Cork jokes and fun, as 
well as of feeling, poetry, and taste ; and I thought he listened with particular 
interest to my account of his introduction to Mrs. Garrick. As usual a 
specimen of the porter was offered to the visitors and tasted by them. At the 
brewery such was the enthusiasm of the reception, that no sooner was the 
Poet's back turned than the glass out of which he had sipped was seized upon 
by Mr. John Augustine Shea, a poetic clerk in the establishment {afterwards 
Editor of a Newspaper in the United States'] who quaffing a brimming draft 



104 

and most interesting five weeks, I have perhaps ever enjoyed. 
The kindness and even enthusiasm with which I was received 
every where in Ireland would flatter a person even less alive to 
such tributes than I am. In some things, however, I was un- 
lucky, and one of them was in the very cross accident of Ste- 
venson's leaving town the very day after I arrived there on a 
long and distant visit to some of his Whiskey cronies." "I 
have not, I am sorry to say, added to my stock of Irish Melo- 

from the same goblet, prefaced no doubt by a corresponding sentimental 
speech, dispatched the relic to a glass cutter in Hanover Street, to have the 
name of MOORE engraved on it as a precious memento of the visit of Erin's 
Minstrel to the Cork Porter Brewery. Moore went down the river (which he 
as truly as poetically termed ' our noble sea avenue') to see his sister, Mrs. 
Scully, at Cove, and the steam boat and quay were crowded to get a glimpse 
at "the Irish Lion," as Lord Lansdowne called him. As you well know, 
Moore dresses with peculiar neatness, and looked that morning I think, par- 
ticularly well in his smart white hat, kid gloves, brown frock coat, yellow 
cassimere waistcoat, grey duck trowsers, and blue silk handkerchief carelessly 
secured in front by a silver pin ; he carried a boat cloak on one arm, and 
walked with a brown silk umberella, for which, however, he had no require- 
ment, as the morning was bright, balmy, and beautiful — " quite beautiful," 
as he himself observed to me. Yet in the assembled crowd — for it literally 
was so to witness the embarkation — there was a general feeling of disappoint- 
ment, — "that's he" — "the little chap — talking to big Jacob Mark," [the 
American Consul at Cork, who had married a Miss Godfrey]. " Well to be 
sure if that's all of him, what lies they do be telling about Poets —sure I thought 
I'd come out to see a great joint (giant) as big as O'Brien, at any rate — for 
wasn't Roderick O'Connor roaring and bawling through all the streets last 
night that the Great Poet had come amongst us from foreign parts." " Oh 
then Roderick was drunk, sure enough." "Well, 'tis a darling little pet at 
any rate." " Be dad, isn't he a dawny creature, and dosn't he just look like 
one of the good people." " Well, any how, God speed them !" and these 
various opinions resolved themselves only into a faint cheer, as Moore stepped 
on board the boat. Doctor Tuckey has gone down the river with Moore, 
deputed to secure him for a complimentary public dinner to be given to him 
by the citizens of Cork, I have not heard the result — but suspect Moore will 
not accept." 



105 

dies, but have however laid in a few recollections and feelings 
about Ireland which will not fail to shew themselves in what- 
ever else I may do upon the subject."* 
Four Letters, three 4to. (one of two sides), one 8vo., 3rd, 12th, 
18th, and 24th September, 1823. 
" I send you an Irish Melody, and one, I think, of the right 
sort. On looking over my stock, I find I may proceed with the 
9th Number, and as I know it is what you wish most, I shall 
persevere with it till finished." " Send me a Copy of Hunt's 
cheap edition ol the last ' Don Juan.' " Sends three verses of 
" As Vanquish'd Erin wept beside." " I have marked the pas- 
sage from which I think the two figures, both of Erin and of 
the Demon, may be best combined" in an illustrative drawing. 
" I send you an Irish Melody, a second verse to ' Quick, 
we have but a Second,' and two verses of ' They know not 
my heart,' which I have made out. I do not know why this 
was set aside, as it is as good as most of them. I have had a 
message from Stevenson through my sister to say that he will 
bring over the Sacred Songs to me himself, as he is coming to 

* This is indeed quite evident in the IXth Number of the Irish Melodies, 
which was entered at Stationers Hall on the 1st November, 1824. " Of the 
twelve Songs which it contains, nine have reference to local feeling's or tra- 
ditions, or to circumstances which arose out of the Poet's tour. Thus, ' Sweet 
Innisfallen,' and ' 'Twas one of those dreams,' obviously allude to Mr. 
Moore's visit to Killarney ; and ' In yonder valley there dwelt alone,' is said 
to have originated in an anecdote connected with O'Sullivan's Cascade. The 
Song commencing ' By the Feal's wave benighted,' is founded on a romantic 
anecdote in the history of the Geraldines. These four songs fairly belong to 
the County of Kerry. Then, descriptive of a glance at a Map of Ireland, 
preparatory to the tour we find, ' Fairest put on a while.' On meeting with a 
party of old friends in Dublin, ' And doth not a meeting like this.' On Irish 
politics, ' As vanquished Erin wept beside,' &c. and ' Quick we have but a 
second,' is quite the song that might have been suggested by a pleasant 
travelling party being hurried off from an agreeable meeting. The horn of 
the mail-coach guard, or the voice of some equally urgent personage is abso- 
lutely ringing in the ear." 



106 

the Birmingham Music-Meeting. We shall see. There are 
now seven Irish Melodies done, and a month more will complete 
the Number." " I shall send Croker's book up to-morrow, as 
I think I have some more Music to be bound." 

Five Letters, one 4to. (frank "of John Benett), three 8vo. one 
12mo. 2nd, 9th, 17th, 21st, and 24th October, 1823. 
" I should be delighted to be iu town to see my friend Abbot, 
but I am too hard at work to be any where else but where I 
am. Tell him that I wish he could spare a few days to run 
down to us." "I shall be glad if he will take over with him 
to Dublin five of those Medals sent to you from Paris. They 
are, tell him, for Harry Bushe, and he will learn the best way 
of forwarding them to him from Dublin. Give him/my very 
best regards. There are few more worthy persons." " Ste- 
venson has not made his appearance, aud I begin to fear we 
shall not see him here. Indeed, when I gave him the things 
to do, I had but slight hopes of his paying much attention to 
them. Lady Bective is anxious beyond anything," &c. ". I 
have run over here (Pyt House) to our County Member's to 
take a glimpse of Fonthill, which is in his neighbourhood, and 
take advantage of his frank to tell you," &c. " You have here 
a Melody, which (with ' The Banquet is over') makes, I believe, 
the twelve. As some, however, of those I sent are but experi- 
ments, I shall go on writing four or five more to secure as good 
a set as I can." 

Five Letters, two 4to., three 8vo. (two of two sides), 7th, 11th, 
15th, 21st, and 28th November, 1823. 
Refers to a Ballad introduced into "M. P." " Every six- 
pence I get goes to keep down my bills here, and I shall not 
have a quiet mind till they are all discharged." "Your present 
from the Fish Market tempted me into asking our new neigh- 
bour- (the rich Lord of Spy Park) to dine with us. He was 
unluckily engaged, but said he would come some other dav this 



107 

week, so that I am in for what they call a ' blow-out 5 to him 
on Thursday, and must, therefore, commission you to send me 
by to-morrow's coach to Devizes, a Fish as good as that which 
you so kindly gave us for Sunday last, and which was excellent." 
"Will you have the goodness to call at Bicknell's (or Moore's 
rather), the hatter at the corner of New Bond Street, and tell 
him to send me a good Water-proof hat for the Winter, as I 
have none but a White one, which in the month of December 
looks rather poverty-stricken. It would be cheaper to buy a 
hat here, but the truth is I have not so much ready money to 
spare. Tell him to send an oil skin cover with it to keep out 
the rain." " I have no objection of course to Bishop doing 
these last things you mention, but it must be, as Stevenson 
used to do (that is to say if you publish them singly) merely 
correcting my arrangements of them, (which I shall send you) 
and without putting his name to them. This is the way I 
must have all my single things done hereafter." " In those 
works of Campbell's and Bishop's you have sent me, both Poet 
and Musician labour most painfully." "You have also here an 
Irish Melody to an air which I have written out from memory, 
but I am sure not correctly. It is one of Bayley's, and very 
prettily done by him, ' O leave me to my sorrow' — pray send 
me an accurate copy of it. My verses, of which there will be 
a good many verses, are founded on an Irish story." ["-Sy *he 
Feats wave benighted. ,'] " I am going to give myself a day's 
relaxation to-morrow with my friend Bowles to hear the Italian 
Opera at Bath." 

I\vo Letters, 8vo., 11th and 20th December, 1823. 

" I send you three of the Sacred Songs which may be pro- 
ceeded on immediately. I have entirely re-written the words of 
one of them." " I send you three more of the Holy ones, which 
I have been twisting into all sorts of shapes. I shall try and 
find a good subject for Braham. The Sacred Songs ought to 
be as much as possible arranged for single voices." 



108 

Five Letters and proof of Advertisement of the Music to the 
Songs in Lalla Rookh, one 4 to. four 8vo. (one of three 
and three of two sides), one 12mo. all undated, 1823. 
— "it contained a very splendid book published at Berlin, 
respecting the Costumes worn at the Royal Fete, founded on 
Lalla Rookh. I am grieved to the heart to perceive by your 
last that this eternal and infernal law suit with your brother is, 
after all, likely to begin again." " The cursed money, I fear, 
will run short. I have been obliged to pay £40 within these 
few days to one of the furnishers of our house, who was to have 
waited till Christmas, but, being threatened with arrest himself, 
I could not refuse him. I shall, however, make a bould push 
to get to town. I hope you saw how kindly Sir J. Mackintosh 
quoted the Fables at the Grand Dinner." "I shall look over 
Callaghan's Melodies for the purpose you mention, but do not 
recollect that there is any plagiarism, except of my general 
style." " I have entirely re- written ' Lord, now thy golden 
Sun/ and the second verse to * War against Babylon' is about 
the tenth I have tried." " I have not yet decided whether I 
shall have another verse to 'Lord of Heaven.'" "Many 
thousand thanks for the .£300 — it was an enormous pull at 
once." Boivood, Sunday. " I want twenty pounds by return 
of Post (if possible) to pay a Carpenter's bill I have been rather 
dunned for." "I shall now send you alternately a Spanish, 
Sacred, and Irish Melody. I wish," &c. "I saw him [Sir 
John Stevenson'] but that once, which was only for about ten 
minutes, in Catalani's dressing room," &c. 

Six Letters, three 4to. (frank of the Marquis of Lansdowne) 
three 8vo. (one four and one two sides), 2nd, 11th, 
— th, 17th, 20th, and 31st January, 1824 

*-' I like some of Bishop's Greek work exceedingly. He has 
e Sappho' s Song very much as I wished it to be done, par- 
ticularly the Air part. The Glee, too, of ' The Sky is bright ' 



109 

is very happily imagined, but I must have some talk with him 
about the Symphony of it, which, to my ear, is not pleasing." 
" We are rather in a fuss to-day, on account of an announced 
visit from my friend Edward Moore, to dine and sleep. This 
is not the weather for Town Dandies to come and see Cottages 
in." " My time is sadly broken in upon, and the Lansdowne's, 
though very delightful neighbours, are very idling ones." " I 
wish you would look for the books of Doctor O'Leary, and 
send them to me." " I am very much pleased indeed with the 
way the Irish Melodies are arranged, some of the symphonies 
are quite beautiful." " I shall, I think, ask about ten days' 
holidays from you now, as I want to get this Irish Pamphlet out 
early in February." " I send you the son^; of Bowles's." 
" Take care of this Poem for me till we meet, and also of the 
Music book, which contains the original arrangement ' Where 
is your dwelling, ye sainted V This Music book is very pre- 
cious to me." " I would not lose that book for a good deal." 
" On the other side you have the first verse of the Mountain 
Sprite." "I wish you to get for me, as soon as possible, the 
Pamphlet of Hibemicus lately published." " I did not at all 
expect to have the Irish Melodies come so thick on me, as I 
thought we were to get the Sacred Songs out of the way first. 
However, I suppose it is that infernal Stevenson who still delays 
the latter. The lead will suffer for it, as I have material altera- 
tions to make in those you sent me." " The title for Bowles's 
Song is to be thus in the front, ' Go, beautiful and gentle Dove,' 
a Song from an Oratorio called * the Ark,'" &c. "Thank 
Croker for the books he has lent me, particularly O'Leary' s 
Tracts. The last things of Hibernicus are of no use to me." 

Four Letters, one 4to., three 8vo., 6th, 15th, 20th, and 22nd 

Febuary, 1824 

" I think I have succeeded very happily in my second verse to 

' Sing — Sing,' but do not consign it to the lead for a few days, 

in order that I may have time to consider over it a little." 



110 

" How dreadful it is to think of your being again plunged into 
all the horrors of law, by this disagreeable brother of yours." 
" My friend Bowles thinks the verse I sent you the other day, 
to ' Sing — Sing,' the prettiest thing I ever wrote. You will see 
in the next Westminster Review a very nattering and useful 
Article about me and the National Melodies." " I am afraid 
you sometimes think me not attentive enough to your interests ; 
and it is true that my literary labours take also a great deal of 
my attention. But what am I to do? My great delight would 
be, if I could afford it, to confine myself wholly to Songs and 
Music, but there are so many calls on me besides, that I am 
obliged to labour a little at every thing. At this moment my 
hand is so weary with transcribing, that I doubt whether you 
will be able to make out this scrawl." 

Five Letters, three 4 to. (one unsigned) two 8vo. (one of two 
sides), 2nd, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 13th April, 1824 

Derby. " I came over here for a day or two, chiefly to 
attend the Lancastrian Dinner, where my health was drank 
three times three, &c, and where I literally electrified them 
with ' the Shamrock of Erin and Olive of Spain.' I have been 
singing away here at the rate of two dozen Songs a night — 
excellent audiences." Dedication of Volume of Sacred Songs 
to the Rev. Thomas Parkinson, D.D., Archdeacon of Leicester, 
Chancellor of Chester, and Rector of Kegworth. " I suppose 
you saw the paragraph about the Captain in the Times. It 
was most kindly and admirably done, and must serve the book 
a good deal. I had a letter yesterday from Lady Holland, full 
of praise of it. This is all I know about thejnatter as yet. 
The Longmans wrote to me to correct for another Edition — 
but I have not time, and besides, I doubt whether it will be 
called for as soon as they think." 

Five Letters, two 4to., three 8vo. (one of three and one of two 
sides), 16th, — th, 19th, 24th, and 29th April, 1824 



Ill 

u I have had letters full of praise of my book, from Lords 
Lans downe, Holland, John Russell," &c. " I am delighted 
to hear that Mrs. Power likes my book, and hail her approval 
of it as a good omen of its circulation among female readers, 
whom I certainly did not much expect to interest. The pro- 
mise is very fair at present, for they are going to press with a 
third Edition." "I have been obliged to invite some people 
suddenly to dinner on Wednesday, and therefore must trouble 
you to dispatch me a dish of fish by to-morrow's Coach. Sal- 
mon I should prefer, but send whatever is best." " I have had 
great difficulty in finding pretty Airs to fill up our Irish Num- 
ber, and have tried several with words without pleasing myself." 
" Many thanks for the lobster and prawns, which were very 
much wanted for the second Course. They and the Salmon 
were very good." " All that Bishop can claim in the transac- 
tion will be ' revised ' or c corrected ' by H. Bishop. According 
to the first Title you wrote to this Spanish Glee, I am excluded 
altogether from any share in the Musical part, though the 
choice of the Air, the alterations in it (ofton so great as to 
make the Air almost my own), the suggestion of the Harmony 
and accompaniments, and, in short, all that gives character and 
originality to the Music proceeds from me. This would not 
be, in my mind, fair, and I must do what I can to put all 
claim to it out of the question. If you think Bishop's name, 
placed prominently, is likely to increase the attraction of the 
Song, that is quite another thing, and I shall most heartily 
yield to it, because, after all, attraction is the great object, and 
I would not let any little vanity on my part interfere with it." 

Three Letters, Svo. (two with notes on the back), 1st, 3rd, 

and 8th May, 1824 

" You see Rock is in the Third Edition. I should think it 

has already paid all my arrears to Longmans. What a lucky 

hit every way !" " Now you have I think the second verses of 

all the twelve Irish Airs for this Number." " How long the 



112 

mechanical part takes ! This I never sufficiently consider." 
" The parcel for Bowles arrived safe and he is highly delighted 
with the way his Song is brought out." " I wish the Captain 
to have his fling before I draw on the Paternoster Bank again. 
They are getting a Fourth Edition ready. I have had a letter 
of thanks from the Catholics of Drogheda." 

Six Letters, one folio, two 4to., two 8vo., and one 12mo., 2nd, 
5th, 8th, 15th, 20th, and 29th June, 1824 

11 1 have left Croker's three music books," &c. Advertise- 
ment to the Sacred Songs, respecting three melodies introduced 
into the work from a publication by Mr. Gardiner. [See 
page 1 17] — "and you had better say the same." " I did not 
mean the substance of the accompaniment to be altered in the 
first bars, but merely the placing of the notes in the chords, 
which did not look to me as if their tails were turned in the 
proper direction — a thing I know very little of myself, but 
about which I see arrangers are very particular now-a-days." 
" I shall not forget the Princess Augusta ; indeed I men- 
tioned it to Lady Donegall before I left town." "You will 
see that in 'Sweet Innisfallen,' I have restored a passage in 
the seventh verse to what it was before." " You saw what 
courteous epithets a Rev. gentleman at the Baptist Meeting 
bestowed on Capt. Rock. This is quite right, and just the 
effect I meant to produce." 

Six Letters, one 4to., five 8vo., 2nd, 5th, 8th, 10th, 20th, and 
26th July, 1824 

Tears up a bill stamp by mistake — " which is 4s Id out of 
the pockets of myself and heirs for ever." "There is a Mr. 
Baldwin, who writes to me about a poem of his on Fox, and 
says you sent it to me a fortnight ago. In what shape is it ? 
MS. or printed ? Those authors do so pester me, that I really 
ought to have a secretary expressly to answer and to attend to 
them." Have you read ' Rock detected?' there are some odd 



113 

things in it, and a few not bad — but it is no answer." " If the 
sheets of the letterpress of our Ninth Number are not printed 
off, I should like to make an alteration of a word. In the last 
verse, ' And doth not a meeting,' instead of * Let sympathy 
promise' I should wish * Let sympathy pledge us !' " "I have 
forgot always to ask whether you sent a copy of the Sacred 
Songs to the Reverend Dedicatee — if not, pray do." "I have 
found the looking over these Songs a more tough task than I 
expected, from the brutes attempting to put words under the 
music. I never saw such hash as they made wherever they 
could." " Send the inclosed immediately to Mr. Rogers." 
" I have been looking over what is done of the Greek work, and 
the only things worthy of being retained in it, are Bishop's glee, 
'The Sky is bright.' — His Song, 'When o'er her loom the 
Lesbian maid.' My own glee, * Here while the moonlight dim,' 
and one selected thing — the rest must be thrown out." 

Six Letters, 8vo., 1st, 9th, 13th, 20th, and 25th (two), 
August, 1824 
" Being obliged to devote generally one morning in every 
week to answer all the begging letters, bothering letters, &c. 
&c. from all sorts of paupers, and poets, and poetesses that 
accumulate on me through the course of it, I inclose you a few 
of them by this post to save the poor devils a little postage, and 
you will have the goodness to see them safely put into the Two- 
penny for me. Bowood is going to be full of all my town 
friends, Rogers, Lord John, the Hollands, &c. &c. so that I 
shall be routed up sadly by them. You shall, however, have 
your share of me next week." a I send you a song of my own 
on the Balaika subject, which I gave Bishop and which he did 
not quite hit my fancy upon." "I wish you particularly to 
inquire where Catalani is, and give her husband this letter or 
forward it to him if he is out of town. It is to ask him to give 
us a room in their Hotel at Salisbury for the Music Meeting. 
* * * They did lodge at a wine merchant's (a Frenchman) 

i 



114 

in Pall Mall — at all events my friend Edward Moore in Cleve- 
land Row would be able to tell you wbere they are." ll As we 
are to have the christening of little Bustle (as we call him), on 
Saturday, I shall trouble you to send down by Friday's coach 
a couple of good lobsters which is all I think we shall want for 
the luncheon." Longleat (Marquis of Bath's) " I have been 
run away with from home to this most princely place by a party 
from Bowood, which may occasion some delay in my communi- 
cation with you." " I have been kept in such a whirl since I 
last wrote, that, though I have contrived, in the midst of it all 
to write a song of four verses, yet it is not in a state fit 
to send it to you. Some people are coming to dine with me on 
Friday, and I shall want some fish down by to-morrow's coach. 
I leave it to yourself to chuse the best for me. "Where do you 
think I am invited to go next week ? to Lord Bathurst's ! 
rather not have turbot for Friday's dinner, as we have difficulty 
in dressing it — but any other fish you find good, and enough 
for eight people." 

Two letters, 8vo., 6th and 13th September, 1824 

te You will- perceive that ' Thou art not dead' alludes (under 
the name of a celebrated antient Greek) to Lord Byron. I have 
not been able to spare the time for Lord Bathurst's." tl When- 
ever you see the Longmans, I wish you would ask them for a 
ring left with them for me." "I send you two things for the 
Greek work — one of them with music, which I rather think will 
suit the young ladies — it had better, however, be set a note 
lower." 

Six Letters, three 4to. (one of two sides), three 8vo., 1st, 3rd 

(two), 15th, 18th, and 26th October, 1824 

" With respect to the lines to be engraved under the plates 

[IX. Number Irish Melodies] I should like to have merely 

* Sweet Innisfallen, fare thee well,' and under the other the four 

lines. 

1 When will this end, ye Powers of Good,' &c. 



115 

let them be copied correctly from the letterpress. I was much 
surprised to see the plate of the Daemon, as I thought you had 
decided for the one flying up in the air." Fish for seven or 
eight people and a good lobster — " put a bottle of anchovy 
sauce in, as what we get at Devizes is very bad. This is the 
last time, I hope, I shall have to trouble you in the piscatory 
line till spring." " Did you see Shiel's flaming speech about me 
at Cork, on my health being drunk four times four?" "We 
have our friend Corry from Ireland with us, so you may sup- 
pose I have not much 'time for the moment to myself." One 
side of the 4to. letter relates entirely to Evenings in Greece. 
" If Captain Medwin is as inaccurate about more important 
things as he is about the circumstances of my first acquaintance 
with Lord Byron he will have a good deal to answer in various 
quarters. It is not my intention to notice any thing till I 
bring out my own book." Erratum in the Song, "And doth 
not a meeting," fourth verse, for ' the friends we hold dear,' read 
the 'few we hold dear.' "You see how they are hacking 
and vulgarizing the subject of Lord B. before I can come to it. 
Medwin's book, as far as I have seen by the extracts, is full of 
inaccuracies — every thing he tells about me is wrong. You 
see he has even transported little Tom to Venice." 

Seven Letters, two 4to., four 8vo., one 12mo., 2nd, 5th, 8th, 
11th, 17th, 20th, and 29th November, 1824. 
Parcel for Mr. C. Sheridan, 22, Duke Street, St. James's. 
" The Ninth Number I think looks very well." " I rather think 
there is such a Song of Lord B.'s as you mention," &c. " Eye 
water that is in the parcel by Lord Lansdowne." After an ex- 
planation respecting expenditure, Mr. Moore adds, "I never 
before had such a mountain of difficulties to cut through — but 
as I feel my reputation was never higher, I do not despair." 
" I am happy to see by an extract in the Irish papers that the 
Courier has (I suppose with some reservation) praised the New 
Number of the Irish Melodies very warmly. You will te\\ 



116 

Bishop when you see him that I am perfectly satisfied with the 
way the symphonies and arrangements are done." " I got a 
beautiful air from Lady Pembroke the other day, and thought 
it would suit English words, but I can make nothing of it, 
though it haunts me through all my walks — no metre will go 
gracefully to it." " I was obliged to give up Lady Pembroke's 
air as impossible." " I have been already favoured with the 
precious paper you sent me, from the Dublin Mail Office, and 
am rather afraid from the tone of it that my friend Sir John, 
at least, has something to do with it. I am glad to see they 
are so annoyed — I mean those Orange scamps." " I have got 
the Music of the Duenna." " I inclose a Russian air (which I 
got from Lady Pembroke) with words, and a Poem for Bishop 
to set for the Greek Work." " I hear from Dublin that the 
sale of the Ninth Number is 'very brisk' there, and I trust you 
have taken care to secure fair play for yourself in the profits. 
I see your brother has advertised it, with the addition of ' very 
celebrated work.' " 

Five Letters, four 4to. (one of two sides), one 8vo., 6th, 10th, 
12th, 13th, and 28th December, 1824 
" You may tell him [Bishop] that' I am quite charmed with 
his setting of ' the two fountains.' The words are not bad (for 
me), and he has caught the feeling of them most successfully. 
I would only suggest to his better judgment to leave out the 
imitative passage on the words ' running side by side,' which I 
own I don't like ; it would be much better simply" " You see 
there is a good article in the Edinburgh on the Captain." " If I 
could once get this infernal Sheridan work off my hands, there 
is no doubt of my getting on flourishingly, for I am determined 
now to try every thing, Novel, Opera, &c. &c. till I get over 
my difficulties." An extraordinary unsigned letter, 
respecting the state of Moore's finances, and his specu- 
lation upon his literary life, and means for living. — 
s ' I was beginning to waver about going up, but your letter and 



117 

one from Rees have decided me. So that you may expect me 
{not to a beefsteak, for I rather think I shall dine on the road,) 
but to oysters and a glass of brandy and water between nine and 
ten." " It is quite awful to see how the money slips out of my 
hands here in Christmas bills." 

Five Letters, two irregular size, three 8vo. (one of two sides), 
Tuesday, the others undated, (1824) 
" Your Dedication is thought to be quite right. I would 
advise, however, your asking some one whether ' To the King's 
most excellent Majesty,' would not be more in form*" " I send 
you some lines which Lord Byron gave me * * * and if you 
get them set and think it worth while, you may claim them 
as property.' '" I see Bishop has published his other ' National 
Melodies/ How do you like this ? The very thing that Stevenson 
and your brother (though cast off by us) thought necessary to 
apologize for in the case of the Irish Melodies, Bishop (though 
our ally) has done without any apology at all." " I have got 
rid of the poney * * * (and though it cost me thirteen 
guineas) I have been obliged to give six pounds with it in ex- 
change for a poney whose price is only twelve. This is the 
poor man's luck always." "I could not find either the air or 
former words of ' Castle Blarney/ but I have written other words, 
which I dare say are better than those I did before." " I shall 
be much disappointed if Stevenson does not come to me, as I 
looked with certainty to our finishing this number together." 
" Castle Blarney will be a great beauty in the Number." " I 
have written to your brother to say that I shall henceforth leave 
the whole matter to be settled between you and him. My 
friend the Rector here is going to call a meeting for a Petition 
against the Roman Catholics, so you see what Orthodox society 
I have got into." 

Mr. Gardiner to Mr. Moore and Mr. Power, two Letters, one 
4to., one 8vo., with Note in Mr. Moore's Autograph, 
3rd June, 1824 



lib 

Respecting two Airs taken from Mr. Gardiner's Sacred Me- 
lodies introduced into the Second Volume of Moore's Sacred 
Songs. (See page 112.) 

Three Letters, 8vo. (one of two sides) 3rd, 16th, and 30th 
January, 1825 
Subscription to Athenaeum Club. " I did not like the last alter- 
ation of 'Thou art not dead,' and inclose it now in the state I 
wish it to be. By the time he [Sir Henry Bishop] has made 
the slight change that is necessary (and pray say how sorry I 
am to have given so much trouble about it), I shall have a 
second verse for it different from that which it bears at present." 
"You'll pay the two-pence on the inclosed letter —it is to one of 
those begging devils, who little know what a pauper they 
apply to. I am pestered with letters of all kinds and from all 
quarters — America, Germany, France, and Birmingham. — The 
last was from a young gentleman wishing to be employed as 
my amanuensis, and asking what remuneration I could give 
him !" (i I have been in the receipt of great honour and glory 
at Bath during this last fortnight. The Speech I made at the 
Literary Institution (under the noses of two Bishops) made a 
great noise among the natives there, though the Bath News- 
papers have (as usual) played the devil with my eloquence in 
their reports. There were also allusions to me in the Prologue 
at the Amateur Play which tried my modesty not a little." 

Seven Letters, five 4to., two 8vo., 2nd, 4th, 8th, (two) 16th, 
23rd and 24th February, 1825 
" When I last wrote to you we were in great anxiety about 
Phipps our neighbour, who had gone off to Havre to fight a 
duel with another neighbour — symptoms of rural peace and 
innocence. They returned after firing two shots each. One 
of Phipps's balls having gone through his antagonist's hat, and 
the last shot of the latter having produced a contusion on 
Phipps's foot." " I can't find the second verse and be d — d 



119 

to it, so must write another." The Spring*of Finance is run 
quite dry with me, and ' as a Hart panteth after the water- 
brook/ so do I after the water-mark of a Bank of England 
Note. If you can spare me Twenty Pounds I will repay it in 
March, when I must draw either upon Hook or Crook — that 
established firm of all ways-and-means gentlemen." " I have 
been wholly engaged these three or four days by a disagree- 
able quarrel between two of our neighbours which you shall 
hear more of in a day or two." Subscription to Athenaeum 
Club — Accommodation Bills — " What the devil are we to do ? 
I have no doubt things will get much worse." " I now get 
The Times for nothing." 

Two Letters, 8vo. 5 14th and 29th March, 1825 

" I send you a ditty of my own, which I think rather ori- 
ginal. I hope you observe what a composer I have become 
lately. I mean to persevere in it." " The Irish business never 
before looked half so promising." "It is very unlucky that 
Bishop should have delayed the Greek work so long, as I am 
going to press with Sheridan and shall be hunted by the Devils 
for the next two months. I think you had better make sure 
at all events, of the National Melodies." " This life of She- 
ridan has been a heavy mill-stone round my neck, and even 
now I doubt whether I shall be able to have it out before the 
season dies away." 

Five Letters, three 4to. (one franked by John Benett), two 8vo. 

(one unsigned), 6th, 11th, 25th, 28th and 29th April, 

1825 

tl Such quantities have I got to do, that it will be six weeks 

at least before I can stir from this." " Herewith you have 

(though I say it myself) a very pretty glee and the writing of 

this as well as ' Ship, ahoy,' (which is the most popular thing in 

my own singing I have done for some time) has put a plan into 

my head," &c. "I am in great apprehension about my poor 



120 

father, and dread every letter from Dublin." [Mr. Moore's 
father survived for some months after this. He died on the 
17 th December following, in Great Britain Street, Dublin. 
See page 124.] " I have been at work for the Press since ten 
this morning and it is now dinner time, when I hope I may- 
make up to myself by a hearty repast upon your excellent 
mackerel, for which a thousand thanks." " My hand is too 
tired to write any more." — " My great object is not to press 
upon you more than is absolutely necessary, but by a sort of 
kite-flying process between you and the Longmans to keep my- 
self afloat till better prospects "open upon me. As there is 
plenty of capital amongst us — on your side in credit and cha- 
racter, on that of the Longmans in money, and on mine in 
head it cannot be called mere paper work among us, and with- 
out borrowing from friends (which is the last thing I shall ever 
be driven to), or sinking myself deeper with you and the Long- 
mans than I should wish, I have no other mode of getting on 
for this year." ■' This Sheridan work is a most heavy task and 
it would now take me the whole of the summer to finish it as 
I ought — but, though I shall be very late, it must be dis- 
patched, now I am about it." "The sooner I have some money 
the better." 

Five Letters, four 4to., one 8vo., 2nd, 9th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd 
May, 1825 
" I send you a very slight sketch of my Glee as I am not 
able to write down what I mean. It is, I think, a very pretty 
thought, but my musical powers are not equal to the handling 
of it. Bishop would have made a fine thing of the words. I 
hope however he will give a few touches of harmony and some 
brilliant symphonies to express the flying away and returning 
of Spirits, I shall acknowledge them specially in the preface to 
the Glee, and take that opportunity of saying what I think of 
his beau talent. Tell him this." " I had an idea of running 
up for two days next week, in order to attend the Literary 



121 

Fund dinner, but it would not be prudent in any way except 
for the honour and glory at the dinner, and my friend Mackin- 
tosh in the Chair." "The ten pounds arrived safe, and was a 
very welcome out-rigger to the £20." " I am just setting off 
for Devonshire to Dr. Bain, to make some enquiries about She- 
ridan. As the Longmans insist upon paying my expenses, I 
have the less remorse in taking the trip." " I did not get home 
from Doctor Bain till Friday night and found myself so over- 
whelmed with proofs that I have not been able to copy out the 
Glee." " I want you also to send me down by Tuesday's Coach 
some salmon (if not too dear) and a lobster — enough for six 
people. I am obliged to give a dinner to our new Parson on 
"Wednesday. If the salmon should be unapproachable send 
one good dish of some other fish." — Sends second verse to 
" Slumber, oh Slumber." 

Two Letters, 4to., 11th and 20th July, 1825 

" As I take for granted you are back again, I write a line to 
welcome you, and to hope that you have had more fun than 
your pill-garlick friend (still hard at work) has had in the 
interval." " I was glad to find you had returned safely from 
your trip into foreign parts," &c. " What weather it is ! it 
quite disables me from business. I have had an awful proof 
within these few days of the uncertainty of life. On Monday 
I was one of the pall-bearers at the Funeral of a gentleman of 
this neighbourhood, and yesterday one of my brother pall- 
bearers (a man of large fortune in this county) dropped sud- 
denly dead in his own grounds, from the heat. Sudden death, 
indeed, formed part of our conversation in the mourning coach 
on Monday, and I rather think this poor man expressed (as I 
know I did myself) a preference for that mode of dying. God 
bless you, my dear friend, and preserve both you and me long 
to our families and customers." # 

* In Moore's Diary, as edited by Lord John Russell, there is an odd 
blank, or a confusion of dates, between June and August, 1825, Vol. IV. 



122 

Three Letters, 4to. (one franked " Lansdowne"), 2nd and 5th 
August, and 29th September, 1825 

" I want you to call at my last lodgings, 58, Jermyn-street, 
and know from them if I can have the same rooms on Saturday 
next. You must say, however, that in this dead time of the 
year, I must have them much cheaper, and if not shall go back 
to Duke-street. Do not tell any one I am coming to town, for 
though there are but few there, there are always enough to 
pester me, and I shall be so busy that I must make it a point not 
to stir out to see a soul before 3 or 4 in the day. A chop with 
you at the latter hour will be often acceptable." With reference 
to lodgings — " but I must now trouble you to secure those in 
Duke-street, any part of the house, except the garrets and par- 
lours. If I cannot be accommodated there, pray go to 19, 
Bury-street, and ask whether I can have the back rooms that 
Mr. Corry had — at a cheaper rate, of course, on account of the 
time of year." 

Five Letters, three 4to. (one of two sides), two 8vo. 7th, 9th, 
11th, 13th, and 15th October, 1825 

" I have been a good deal idled since I came home by living 
chieily at Bowood, I hope, however, soon to send you two or 
three things which I have on the stocks. You see by the Times 
and Courier of yesterday that they have already begun pillaging 
my work — what a gauntlet I shall have to run ! Lord John 
Russell has offered me a seat in his carriage to Paris, and Lord 
Lansdowne offers me lodging in his apartments while there, so 
that I really believe (in order to get out of the way of the 
critics) I shall accept this offer for two or three weeks. You 
shall have, however, enough for Bishop to employ himself upon 

p. 298." Moore, according to his published Biography, records, on the 26th 
June, that a few days before he had attended the funeral of Henry Joy's 
father, as pall-bearer, at Chippenham. The date of July 20, 1825, in this 
letter, and it is a remarkable one, is in Mr. Moore's autograph. 



123 

during the time." " I hope you will find the game we send 
good." Moore's great anxiety respecting the Life of Lord 
Edward Fitzgerald — the handsome conduct of the Longmans, 
" three hundred pounds more to my credit, in addition to the 
original sum stipulated," &c. " I forgot to answer your ques- 
tion about the Sheridan Song — I would say," &c. " I have 
made up my mind to go somewhere, but whether to Paris or 
Scotland have not yet decided. I rather incline to the latter." 
" Bessy had a taste of the fish yesterday. I was away at Bath 
attending the Mayor's dinner to meet Lord Camden, &c. &c. 
but to-day we are to feast together upon it. There have two 
or three things happened rather to shake my purpose of going 
to Paris, one of which is Lord John's change of mind on the 
subject, and the other," &c. " As, however, I feel I shall not 
be able to disengage my mind from Sheridan (being kept in a 
perpetual state of excitement and fidget by the letters I receive 
on the subject every morning) without some change of "scene, 
and as the Lansdownes expect me to join them at Paris, I have 
pretty nearly decided on taking the journey alone," &c. 

Three Letters, two 4to., one 8vo., 3rd, — , and 20th November, 
1825 

Ediyiburgh.—" I arrived here yesterday evening, after a most 
delightful visit of four days to Sir Walter. I really never was 
before so much interested or pleased. His cordiality to me 
was beyond what I could expect, and his cordiality kept me in 
a constant state of agreeable excitement the whole time. No- 
thing can exceed the kindness I meet with everywhere. I am 
to-day going to pass a couple of days with Jeffrey. They talk 
of a Public dinner to me, but I cannot stay long enough to 
accept it; You may easily suppose I have not much time for 
letter writting, but I knew you would be anxious to hear of my 
arrival in Edinburgh," &c. " I am afraid the medley I inclose 
will puzzle Bishop," &c. " I arrived safe at home on Thurs- 



124 

day night, having been detained two or three days longer than 
I intended at Edinburgh by an attack of cholera morbus, which 
is very prevalent there. Not feeling very strong after this ill- 
ness I was glad to get home as directly as possible without 
paying my promised visits to my friends in Derbyshire. I 
would not have lost my trip to Scotland for any consideration. 
In addition to the interest which all I saw there excited in me, 
the cordiality and distinction with which I was received by 
every one has left an impression on my mind not easily to be 
effaced. I am sorry to say, however, that besides the remains 
of my illness, I have brought home a bad cold with me, which 
so stupifies me that I can hardly see the paper while I write. 
Strong temptations were held out to me to settle in Edinburgh, 
but the climate would by no means suit." " I shall now turn 
to the completion of our Greek work and set of Glees as speedily 
as possible." 

Two Letters, one 4 to., one 8vo. (three sides and franked " Lans- 
downe"), 6th and 12th December, 1825 
" In order to give you an idea what our Greek work is to be, 
I send you (hastily copied out) the Poetry that is to follow the 
opening glee," &c. "It will, I flatter myself, be rather an 
elegant work, and, as a thing to be read and sung at the Piano 
Forte, is likely to succeed." " I was just preparing to send 
you off the inclosed and some more of the intermediate verses 
for the Greek work, when I received a letter from Dublin 
saying that my father is dangerously ill. This alas is what I 
have long expected [see page 120], and it brings not only much 
affliction but much embarrassment with it. I must set off for 
Dublin to-morrow, and try what I can do to comfort my poor 
mother, who I fear is but little prepared for the shock." " The 
words written on the other side [for first Evening in Greece, 
with numerous corrections, some lines in pencil."]'' I wish 
Bishop to set for Voices and a Chorus." " I have sad scenes 
before me in Dublin, and shall require, I feel, all my fortitude 



125 

to bear up against them. God bless you." u Again, God 

bless you and spare all those you love to you. Do not show 

this letter to Bishop, but have what I say about business copied 

out." 

Four Letters, two 4to. (one unsigned), two 8vo., undated, (1825) 

" My old friend, Lord Strangford, has just caught hold of 

me, and may delay a little my visit to you." " I think the 

success of my book has inspired you — you have written so 

eloquent a letter. Many thanks for it ! I assure you among 

the numerous tributes I have received on the occasion there is 

none I value more highly." [Title of Song from life of Sheridan 

in Mr. Power's autograph attached.~] " I send you the letter 

I wrote, or at least begun to you on Sunday, which will be at 

least a preparation for our conference on the subject of it. 

Pray, look at Southey's letter in the evening's Courier — it is 

quite infamous" "I slept like a top after my two beakers." 

Seven Letters and Notes {some curious), 8vo., and irregular 

sizes, " Holland House, Sunday," "Tuesday Evening," 

" St. James's Place, Wednesday Morning," and undated 

one, on scrap at the back "What time # # — 11 to go 

dinner? F. Burdett." (1825) ? 

" I don't know whether I left my engagement with you to 

day loosely or not. I hope the former ; my impression is that 

I said I would let you know whether I could come, and I trust 

this is the case, as I should be extremely sorry to have made 

any mistake on the subject. The truth is, this establishment 

[Holland House'] breaks up to day, (the whole family setting 

off for the next eight months to Paris), and they made it such a 

point that I should pass the last day with them, that I could 

not refuse. I shall call upon you to morrow." " Here I am, 

and shall be glad to see you. If Murray should be with me 

when you come, I know you will not mind waiting # # " 

I mean, if I can manage it to dine — because I think it is safest 

— at least for a day or two ; but I may, perhaps, contrive to 



126 

come and sup with you." " My usual luck in never losing a 
paper," &c. 

Five Letters, two 4to. (one franked " Lansdowne"), three 8vo. 
(one of two sides), 9th, 16th, 22nd, 30th, and 31st January, 
1826 
Dublin. u Just as I was ready to start last week, and had 
reconciled my poor mother to parting with me, the wind set in 
so strong from the Eastward, that, for four days no boat of any 
kind could venture out, and the harbour of Dunleary is covered 
with wrecks. The wind, however, though still contrary, is to- 
day more moderate, and to-morrow evening I mean to sail for 
England. You shall hear from me soon after my arrival at the 
Cottage, where new cares await me, but where I shall still, at 
least, have quiet and leisure, and be able, I trust, to work and 
redeem myself." " I send you the introduction to ' Weeping 
for thee' [First Evening in Greece], and think you will say I 
have seldom written better. The next, which I shall set about 
immediately, will be, ' When the Balaika/ " &c. ' ' How you 
must congratulate yourself these times, on not having given in 
to the Bill line like others. Poor Sir W. Scott is, as far as him- 
self is concerned (for he had alienated his landed property to 
his son on his marriage) almost ruined. He had nearly £70,000 
out in paper, to meet which he has nothing but the help of 
friends, and he must now, like myself, work hard and live sav- 
ingly. This is too bad and I grieve for him from my heart. 
With respect to myself, if I but once knew how to get through 
this year, I should have no fears about the next. But I cannot 
work as I ought while my means of present subsistence are so 
uncertain." 

One Letter, 4to. (four sides), 20th January, 1826 

" Sends upwards of eighty lines for First Evening in Greece. 
The alterations in which as subsequently printed are very nu- 
merous and curious. " You will see by this that I have come 
to the Pyrrhic Dance, I shall not be sorry if Bishop has not yet 



127 

done it, as I should like him to read over the verses that intro- 
duce it." " The poetry you see is extending heyond my esti- 
mate. I suppose you heard that the King ordered his librarian 
Sumner to review me in the Quarterly. How I have escaped 
this cannonade in the last number I cannot think ; but perhaps 
they are keeping it for The Representative."* 
Three Letters, two 8vo,, one 12mo., 8th, 11th, and 26th February, 
1826 
" Didn't I write to you before I went to Dublin about a man 
who pledged a music book with me and wanted a sovereign ? 
what did you do about it 1" "I think I have at last hit upon 
a glee, which, with a little cooking, will do to keep company 
with the Watchman and the Ships." " What a splendid pre- 
sent came down in the box ! All Scott's Works from himself 
and from poor Constable." " That man has written to me 
again for some money — the fellow who sent the Music-book. 
What did you give him ? " 

Four Letters, two 4to. (one franked by John Benett), two 8vo. ? 
14th, 17th, 22nd, and 27th March, 1826 
tl You cannot imagine anything to come luckier than your sal- 
mon — for we had that very morning been led into asking Colonel 
Trevanion (a great friend of Burdett's who is on a visit to the 
Phipps's), and had literally nothing but a turkey to give our 
party, when your fish most seasonably arrived." " I have been 
for a long time past solicited from all quarters to ask your per- 
mission for the printing of the Air, ' Mary, I believed thee true,' 
in a Collection of Parodies that Lady Clarke is publishing." 
" Bishop's note is such an appeal, as I know (with you who are 
so indulgent to us workmen, when lazy) will not fail to procure 

* The Representative was a morning newspaper undertaken by Murray, 
with a small capital for such a speculation. The Editor was understood to 
have been the Rt. Hon. Benjamin D'Israeli. After a few months of feverish 
existence it expired. 



128 

him a respite, but it is, I must say, very hard upon you." " I 
take this opportunity of sending the Music Book which that 
hegging gentleman sent me, which you may return to him if he 
should happen to be troublesome." "You shall have my 
answer about Carolan in my next." "There is a man has 
written to me from Ireland, who says you are publishing some 
airs of his — he is, I think a Professor of the Irish language. I 
have mislaid his letter, and want to answer it — pray let me 
know his name and address." 

Four Letters, two 4to., two 8vo., 1st, 10th, 17th, 23rd of April, 
1826 
u I have had a letter from Mrs. Arkwright about her Songs, 
which she is willing at last to publish — but I am sorry for your 
sake to say that it is on very different terms from those on 
which I expected formerly to get them for you. She now 
wishes to make a present to some friend of hers who is in want 
of money (not me), and is accordingly desirous to get as much 
as she can for the collection." " I shall be glad to do anything 
with Carolan for our last Number of Irish Melodies that you 
please — but it is a disagreeable looking thing, and nothing but 
its curiosity and authenticity could gain a place for it in any 
civilised publication. It may, however, be worth your buying. 
It was but yesterday that I could hold up my head with any 
thing like a feeling of health — but I am now a good deal better. 
The life I lead here is too monotonous and studious for me, by 
far." u I am now quite well again, and am going for a day or 
two to Bath." "They talk of Stevenson's coming to the Bath 
Anacreontic on Wednesday, where I asked him once before. 
I hope it is true." " I have had a letter from Mrs. Arkwright, 
who will not say what price she puts on the Songs." "Tell 
him [Bishop] too when you see him, that I never before had 
any idea of the beauty, the great beauty of his Music to my 
Songs out of the Angels, till I heard them sung while at Bath 
by his friend Miss Winsor, who is one of the most touching 



129 

and intellectual singers I ever heard. Don't forget this. I 
gave Sir John's health at the dinner, and they have in the papers 
as usual misrepresented what I said— making me say that it was 
' his music that produced the popularity of the Irish Melodies!!' 
There never was anything like the warmth with which I was 
toasted and applauded." 

Five Letters, three 4to., two 8vo., 1st May, 8th June, 6th, 28th, 
and 30th July, 1826 
" I shall hope that by this time Bishop is crowned with 
laurels, and ready to relax himself from his grander toils with 
our bagatelles." " Our two Calne members dine with me on 
Saturday, and I must have some fish ; don't send more than 
will do for a dinner of six." " I owly write one line to say that 
I have just returned from a ramble of a week. I passed some 
days at Lord Arundel's, and two or three more with my friend 
Doctor Bain in Dorsetshire." 

Four letters, two 4to. and two 8vo., 1st, 14th, 21st, 28th, 
and 30th August, 1826 
Song of two verses introduced in first Evening in Greece, 
" As by the shore at break of day." 

" I have just made a very hearty supper of your good oysters, 
and drank your health, (by way of a treat) in some bottled 
porter." " I wish you to buy me ' South wood's Divine 
Government.' " "I send you what I think a little gem in its 
way for the Greek work. The air is from a collection of original 
Greek dances, which a gentleman (a stranger to me), sent me 
this last week, saying that as I was the Lyric Monarch I had 
a right to all such waifs and strays, and that they must be 
worthless indeed, if I could not ennoble them in my National 
Melodies. By the bye, I don't know whether I told you that 
I have had a pressing application from the person who pur- 
chased all Garrick's papers the other day, to arrange them for 
publication, and to name my own terms. I have declined." 



130 

el Benett has lent us his house [in Albemarle Street.] I 
should not mind staying into the next week, (for purposes of 
business) but that I have been pledged for months to attend 
the Gloucester Music Meeting with Bowles, who is the Steward 
and Manager of it, and who has ordered some of my things to 
be performed expressly for me." "I will take up the MSS. 
and Reviews with me on Monday — the Monthly is not only 
very kind but very well done." 

Seven Letters, five 4to. (one franked " Lansdowne," another 

" Auckland") two 8vo., 2nd, 4th, 14th, 20th, 25th, 

28th, and 29th September, 1826 

" What I had to write about (and forgot in my last) was to 

beg that you would call on Monday in Albemarle Street, and tell 

the dirty old woman there, &e." " I am employed on the Greek 

work, though (from something that has given me a good deal 

of uneasiness and anxiety) I doubt whether I shall succeed in 

having it ready before the beginning of next week." Gloucester, 

" I am here in the midst of fine music and fine people, and 

have only time to inclose you £5 — with a thousand thanks — 

Lord Lansdowne brought me and we are lodged together." 

"I wish he [Bishop] would imagine airs for both sets of words, 

on the notion which they convey, and I would write new verses 

to them." " I was very much pleased at Gloucester, besides 

being a good deal flattered. At the Steward's Dinner, where 

we had shoals of Tories (Duke of Beaufort, Lord Calthorpe. 

&c, &c.) my health was the only one given with three times 

three." " I wish if you can find out Taylor, you would tell him 

that Lord Lansdowne will subscribe to his book as well as 

myself. Try and find him." " I have been kept in a state of 

idleness ever since I left town, but am now about to turn in for 

business doggedly, and the Greek work shall be my first object." 

" You will not forget the ' Divine Government' in your next. I 

am asking some of the neighbours for next Saturday to dinner, 

and shall have to trouble you with a commission for fish on the 



131 

occasion. " " As I thought it possible you might not consider 
my last letter a sufficient warrant for the dispatch of the fish, 
I send this to say that I shall be much obligedhj your sending 
me a dish for seven or eight persons by to-morrow's coach, (let 
your man put it down to my account) . Turbot you know we 
cannot well manage, but any thing else, good and cheap, if 
possible." With reference to post-paying this letter, Mr. Moore 
adds, tl as it would be barbarous to make you pay for this fish- 
letter, I shall act M.P. on the occasion." " I take the advan- 
tage of a parcel to the Longmans to send you the MSS. with 
which that cursed Irishman bothered me, and which are all (as 
I have nearly told4iim) confounded trash." 

Seven Letters, two 4to., five 8vo. (one of two sides), 9th and 
19th October, 2nd, 10th, 15th, 2 4th, and 27th November, 
1826 
" I shall be obliged to be in town for a few days about the 
end of next week. Murray (between ourselves) is, I fear playing 
me false on the subject of Lord Byron's life, and I have written 
to Rogers to meet me in town as soon as he can, to bring the 
shuffling fellow, if possible, to some definitive and written 
engagement." " I am going to pop in a note to Miss Drew, 
which I hope will escape postage/' [The letter is charged 
double.'] " In consequence of your letter and one which I have 
just received from Mr. Rogers, I mean to start for town to- 
morrow morning. Mr. Rogers wishes me to sleep at his house, 
but as I had much rather be independent, pray get me a bed 
either at Mrs. Soane's or at that Hotel near you, where Mrs. 
Rranigan was for some time, I forget the name of it." Sends 
three Glees. " I found all at home well, but was not suffered 
to return immediately to quiet, being obliged to join the party 
at Bo wood, where I staid both Monday and Tuesday. There 
is, however, to be a pause of company there for a month to 
come." " I have corrected the MS. of the Poetical part, but 

k 2 



132 

am not sorry you have had it printed, as I can always judge 
better of what wants alteration in the letterpress." 

" Many thanks for the fish 
And your birth-day wish !*' 
" That infernal Pyrrhic dance will still give trouble. It is not 
at all what I wish." " The Song I enclose I have had for this 
week past. It is written by a young girl of high fashion and 
of a family celebrated for talent. [Hon. Mrs. Norton ?~\ The 
words have great beauty in them ; but the music I have not as 
yet given a fair trial to. She wants to publish a set of them, 
under this fictitious name (?), and she wishes (as every one 
wishes now) to get money. I have been entreated to apply to 
you, and I shall leave the rest to yourself. Only let me have 
an answer such as suits the sex and fashion of the fair appli- 
cant." " I have, after some consideration sketched out my 
idea of the Pyrrhic dance in a way I think Bishop cannot mis- 
take. I wish I could feel as sanguine about this work as he 
does. We have done our best to make it elegant and creditable, 
but that it will be popular with a public that's going wild about 
• Cherry Ripe' is more than I can answer for." 

Seven Letters, four 4to. (one of two sides, and one franked 
£ J. Macdonald '), two 8vo. and one 12mo., 3rd, 4th, 9th, 
17th, 22nd, 25th, and 31st December, 1826 
" I do not foresee that there will be any such corrections as 
to require second Revises — a very rare thing in my printing 
operations (I mean the not having many Revises)." " The 
Pyrrhic dauce will do —he has taken nearly note for note the 
melody and arrangement I suggested." " The Longmans have 
just proposed to me a plan by which (if it succeeds as they ex- 
pect) I may make, they say, from five hundred to a thousand 
pounds a year with little trouble. This is worth consideration." 
" The Longmans have, in consequence of my representations 



133 

against the probable success of their plan, resolved, I believe, 
upon giving it up ; at all events they see the justice of my 
reasons for being unwilling to have anything to do with it. 
There is a similar plan which in your hands would be much 
more likely to succeed, and, indeed (if it has not already struck 
any music publisher) would be, I think, sure to succeed, and 
I should have no objection to give you my name and assistance 
in it. Say nothing of all this. It is not improbable that I 
shall soon be obliged to go to town, for Murray is come all 
right again, and promises soon to settle our business definitively. 
You perceive that he now announces the Life of Lord Byron 
with my name. If I go up, we can talk of the speculation." 
" I am persecuted for an answer about the young Lady's Songs. 
Do say something as to your inclinations or ^inclinations on 
the subject. You can hardly I think afford to give anything 
worth her accepting." 

Six Letters, one 4to., five 8vo. (two of two sides, and one franked 
"Carnarvon"), 5th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 17th and 28th 
January, 1827 
Bowood. " This house idles me sadly, though nothing to be 
sure, is better worth idling for." " The packet you sent me by 
the last parcel was a collection of Spanish Airs with a flattering 
letter from a Gentleman of Cambridge." " There is a famous 
Article in praise of my Life of Sheridan in the forthcoming 
Edinburgh Review." " Before this time twelve months my 
Byron's Life will have put me I think out of debt and I shall 
then I hope be able to manage my annual income with more 
regularity and less loss." " I think it is not fair to keep you 
in suspense so long about the plan I meant to recommend to 
you, and which was suggested by the proposal of the Long- 
mans to me to become the Editor of an Annual Volume of 
Prose and Poetry like those that are at present so popular. 
Now, though (as I told them) the numbers of this sort of pub- 
lication that are in the market, with the addition of the many 



134 

more that their success will attract, would make a volume of 
the same kind (even with the attraction of my name which 
they seemed to count upon very much), rather a doubtful spe- 
culation, yet it occurs to me that an Annual work of a Musical 
kind, (a mixture of Music and Poetry) would have a very great 
chance (with good embellishments, &c. and my name as Editor) 
of distinguishing itself among the crowd, and becoming very 
popular ; particularly if between this and next year the thought 
should occur to no other Music Publisher. Think of this." 
With reference to Mr. Moore's Glee of " Hip, Hip, Hurrah," 
then unpublished, which was sung at the Anacreontic dinner 
at Bath, the Poet writes, " The Glee did wonders on Friday, I 
really never heard of any thing so successful. There was a 
distinct peal of applause after every verse, and we were obliged 
to sing it again in the course of the night. Lord Lansdowne 
and I went together (having slept at Fearly Castle the night 
before) and I had Lord Liverpool opposite to me at dinner, 
who was amazingly civil, and asked me to drink wine with him, 
&c. &c. He expressed such anxiety, too, for a copy of the 
Glee for Lady Liverpool, that I thought I might (with all 
sorts of injunctions as to not letting it out of their hands) 
allow the Prime Minister to have one of the printed copies you 
sent me, and the other for fear of accidents, I put into the fire — 
so that you must let me have another proof to correct." 

Four Letters, two 4to., one 8vo., one 12mo., 5th, 9th, 10th, 16th 
February, 1827 

" I wish when you have an opportunity you would row our 

Newsman, for he continually makes mistakes in the papers he 

sends, giving us the Times, British Traveller, &c. just as it 

suits his fancy." " That thundering rogue of a Newsman sent 

the Times again yesterday. Tell him it is the Chronicle and 

only the Chronicle he is to send us." li I wish you to call, 

some time within the next two or three days at Benett's, and 

tell the old woman there that she may expect me on Weclnes- 



135 

day evening next, and must have everything as clean as a new 
pin (mind you impress this on the dirty old witch) and the bed 
well aired for me. As Benett (who has just lost his wife) will 
not come up for some time, she may as well (tell her) give me 
his bed-room which is airier and which I should like better ; 
if any thing should bring him up, I can change into the other 
room." 

Seven Letters, three 4to., three 8vo., one 12mo., 6th, 9th, 12th, 
14th, 17th, 23rd and 27th March, 1827 
" When you are sending my hats, there need only come 
two of them, as I always keep an old one in town smartly 
lined for the evening." " What do you think of the division in 
the Commons? It made my heart sick." " Barnes, I see has 
not taken the hint about the puff. I must pluck up courage 
enough to ask again. My neighbour, Colonel Napier, who has 
gone to town, has undertaken to make Jones do his best in 
some design, to which I can write." " You see the Times gave 
us a little puff at last ; very good and flattering as far as the 
Poetry is concerned, but I wish that they had not said that the 
Music was ' chiefly' by Bishop — because in the first place it is 
not true, and in the next, because I fear, between ourselves, 
such an announcement will do us no good, Bishop having rather 
lost ground. I have always told you that this work would not 
do much, and I fear you will find me but too true a prophet. 
But we shall pull up in the Annual !" " The following is the 
Dedication which I send as requiring more time to get done 
than the Preface. 

To Mrs. Jeffrey. 
in remembrance of the pleasant hours passed at Craig-Crook, 
ivith her and my valued friend, her husband, I have great 
pleasure in inscribing the following work. Thomas Moore. 
I have begged of Eees to tell you whether this is the way to 
spell Craig-Crook." " I had had this Preface or rather a Pre- 
face not at all like it ready to send you yesterday under a cover 



136 

to Lord Lansdowne— but just as I was folding it up I took it 
into my head to alter it altogether, and I hope you will like it 
in its present form." " You may guess how I'm bothered with 
interruptions. Here has been a Mr. Teeling this morning all 
the way from Ireland for the purpose of reading to me part of 
a History of the Rebellion of '98, and I have been obliged to 
ask him to dinner for the purpose — otherwise you would not 
have had your Preface, nor the Printers to-morrow their proof, 
if he had engrossed, as he fully intended to do, my morning 
with his damned Rebellion." 

Seven Letters, three 4to., four 8vo., 6th, 8th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, 
23rd and 27th April, 1827 
" I wanted to get rid of ' Old Nick' in the • When Love,' 
(as it would not quite suit female lips) and I think I have suc- 
ceeded pretty well." "The Article in the Magazine is very 
flattering, and (not much less welcome) the salmon was excel- 
lent." " What comical work is going on in politics ! Some 
thing good may come out of it." " I never again will have a 
Dedication engraved." " I have been all the morning with 
Lord L — . Nothing yet settled. This between ourselves." 
" 1000 thanks for the mackerel and for your good joke with 
them." " If the thing is done, it is of no consequence, but it 
is worth nine pence to have a thing right, and I only wish we 
could always have things right at so cheap a rate. I have been 
with my neighbour all the morning— nothing settled yet, but 
within an ace of it." " I hope you were amused with the 
account of my annuity from the Times, ^g2000 a year. It 
shows what some people think me worth, God help them !" 
" The following is the verse for 'The Garland I send thee," 
and it is to come third instead of second. 

' The rest were all cull'd from the banks of that glade 
Where watching the sunset, so often we stray' d ; 
And mourned, as the time flew, that Love hath no power 
To {throw, struck out) bind in his {sweet, struck out) 
chain {over, struck out) even one happy hour.' 



137 

" To give you some idea of the trials I make of these 
things without hitting what I wish, I'll write one or two of 
my experiments at this verse for you." 

* The rest were all cull'd on the banks of that stream 
(Where so oft we wandered — struck out) 
We gazed on so often in hope's happy dream, 
And thought that its current would cease to flow by 
Ere love should be altered, or that dream would die. 

The rest were all cull'd in that shady alcove 
Whose spring leaves first heard,' &c. &c. 
I havn't time for the rest. 
T. M." 

Eight Letters, one 4 to., five 8vo. (three of two sides) two, 12mo., 
4th (two), 11th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 26th, and 28th May, 
1827. 
Sends a verse of twelve lines : 

" In yon leafy bower, 

Through which the Moon peeps, 
At this witching hour 
A fairy boy sleeps." 
" This is all pretty well, but the idea altogether was not so 
good as the other. You see there is now no doubt that Lord 
Lansdowne is coming in. God send he may be able to do some- 
thing for me ! I am almost tired of working." "You have not 
said what you did with the verses I sent you from the Epicurean. 
I now transcribe you the only thing like a regular Song that it 
contains, 

" Oh, Abyssinian tree," &c. 

" I am going to inflict upon you a tailoring commission for 
me. My former poor snip is a bankrupt (as I have learned by 
a demand upon me from his assignees for payment), and I must 
accordingly proceed to break another. My only evening coat 
not being in a state to stand a dinner by day-light, I must have 



138 

one ready for me when I come up, and what I want you to do 
is, to send the inclosed to Nugee in Pall Mall, and to take the 
trouble of calling there to know from him whether he can, 
without taking my measure, make a coat sufficiently well upon 
this pattern for me. He is Washington Irving' s tailor, and the 
only one I know any thing of, beyond my own," &c. " You 
observe the impudent publication announced of ' Rhymes of the 
Times?' Galignani had already done the same, with my name 
to it, making an omission — gatherums of all that everybody has 
written in the Times for this year past ! — ' I do not understand 
enough about Sopranos or Tenors to know whether there is 
much importance in the change of names, and only wish he had 
left them simply, First, Second, and Third Voice." " I have 
just had a letter from a Parish Clergyman, so far off as Natchez, 
Mississi])pi, sending me a book of Hymns, and telling me the 
pride he felt at seeing two of his Hymns inserted, as mine, in 
an American Edition of my Sacred Songs." " I hope you 
didn't think the trash last week in the Times mine. I haven't 
had time to send any thing to it for a long while." " The Coat 
is to be blue, with yellow buttons, and to be exactly after the 
pattern of the other — for, though no great things in the way of 
fit, he would only make it worse by at all departing from it." 
' ' The Salmon and its trimmings (the ^20) arrived quite safe — 
a thousand thanks." 

Six Letters, three 4 to. (one of two sides) tv/o 8vo. one 12mo., 
4th June, 3rd, 16th, 20th, 24th, and 30th July, 1827. 
Domestic afflictions (which are explained) have retarded Mr. 
Moore's annual visit to town. " Pray send the inclosed to Mrs. 
D. Just off to Harrow." " I promised to meet Mrs. Shelley 
to sing for her at 34, Strand, to-morrow at 3 o'clock." " Our 
young neighbour, Lord Kerry, dines with us to-morrow, and if 
I had had earlier notice of it, I should have thrown a line out 
at you for some fish — but as it is, flesh must suffice." Sends 
three verses of a Song ' The Painter to his Mistress.' 



139 

" How shall I paint thee, mistress mine ! 

How catch the lights that fly 
So changing o'er that cheek of thine, 

Or fix that spiritual eye ?" &c. 
" I also send T. Cooke's Song, which will be one of your many 
do-nothings." 
Four Letters, one 4to., three 8vo. (one of two sides), 2nd, 10th, 
22nd, and 30th August, 1827. 
" I have been employing myself in looking over all my un- 
published Manuscripts, with a view to the Miscellany, and I 
know it will give you pleasure to hear that there is a con- 
siderable portion of materials which, with a little furbishing up, 
will go far towards making out our first volume. This is to me 
an unexpected discovery, and I lose no time in informing you 
of it. You shall soon have the First Canto of an Eastern Tale, 
in order to extract a subject for a design from it. I find too, 
by my memorandums, that Rees has got in his hands some 
verse translations of mine from the Fathers which were originally 
inserted in the Notes to my Loves of the Angels, and which I 
shall get from him for our work." " I also send you two things 
I have done this week for the Miscellany — the first is a specimen 
of a Series of Translations from the modester parts of the 
ancient amatory Poets, which I have long projected, and towards 
which I have a few things by me from Catullus. The other is 
a lively thing from the French. I think the sketch you sent 
me very clever indeed — but I am afraid the details of such a 
subject would be dangerous to venture upon for such a work as 
we must make ours. It might be done, perhaps, in prose." 
" This lamentable death, though it grieves me deeply, did not 
take me by surprise, I have looked upon him as a gone man 
these two months past."* "You have herewith the verses of 
the Eastern Story, from which I think a design might be taken.'' 
" There are likewise two more translations from the Latin, which 

« The Rt. Hon. George Canning died 8th August, 1827, at Chiswick. 



140 

you will put by carefully." "They wanted us to stay for the 
wedding, (his [ Benetfs~\ daughter is going to be married to Lord 
Charles Churchill) but I could not spare the time." " I shall 
keep the drawing to shew it to my neighbour Napier." " I 
was going to say that the drawing which I send you back is so 
pretty, that on second thoughts, I will write words to it. What 
do you think ?" " As soon as I ascertain Lord Lansdowne's 
movements (for he is expected down, and I believe I may add 
out) it is my intention to take a trip into Nottinghamshire to 
see Newstead and visit, by the way, our Derbyshire friends, I 
shall then be able, I trust, to get Mrs. Arkwright's permission 
to publish some of her Songs in our Miscellany." 

Five Letters, one 4to., four 8vo., 4th, lvth, 16th, 19th, and 23rd 
September, 1827 
" I am just setting off for Bowood, to pass a day or two with 
the Home Secretary, which, as far as I can yet learn, he con- 
tinues still to be." " You shall have a long Prose piece from 
me in the course of this week." " I did not know that my 
Prose sketch was so long — there is about as much more, which 
you shall have by the next opportunity. I passed three days 
at Bowood last week, which prevented my sending it before, 
and I am going there again to-morrow." " I trust I shall be 
able to get through this next year, without doing any thing 
more for the Times. This, between ourselves. I want to devote 
myself entirely to our Miscellany and my Life of Byron. We 
are about to cut down our establishment to one woman servant, 
which will make a difference, I think, adequate to * * * 
in our expenses — not so much from the actual saving of what a 
servant costs, as from the impossibility of company keeping 
which it will bring with it." " I want now by next parcel 
Lady Morgan's Life of Salvator Rosa." "You shall have the 
remainder of the Paris Sketch, and something else, in a day or 
two." " I shall bring up with me all that I have for you, and 
you will get ready any thing you want me to dispatch during 
my stay." 



141 

Pour Letters, 8vo., 3rd, 5th, 24th, and 29th October, 1827 

Northampton. Directions respecting Papers left on the 
mantle-piece in his bed-room. " Lwish I could have brought 
on that ill-treated bed with me. I shall hardly get so com- 
fortable a one till I return to it again." " I am obliged to send 
my new Coat up. It cuts me so under the shoulders that I 
cannot wear it. Pray go to Nugee's, and tell them that they 
must alter it carefully and immediately, and send it down 
directed to me at Rt. Hon. Lord Rancliffe's, Bunny Park, 
Nottingham. Tell them that the tightness under the arms 
makes it wrinkle both before and behind, and that I depend on 
their altering it properly." Bowood. "I arrived at home 
safe and sound the day before yesterday, and found all pretty 
well. My journey was very agreeable, but (except in one 
instance) not very profitable in the way of business. That one 
instance, you will be glad to hear, was Mrs. Arkwright, who 
has placed "all her Songs entirely at my disposal ! Indeed, 
nothing could be more prompt and unreserved than her com- 
pliance with my request — so that we are well provided in that 
department. I should like to have returned home to quiet 
after my pleasure, but this place is now full of my friends, and 
they have laid hands on me the instant of my arrival." "I 
hope you saw the account of my reception at the Ball at Chel- 
tenham." " I take for granted you know Mrs. Shelley's ad- 
dress." 
Four Letters, one 4to., three 8vo. (one of two sides), 6th, 12th, 
19th, and 26th November, 1827 
" I am likely now to be left a little more to myself, and shall 
send you things oftener. Rogers has given me something for 
the Miscellany, and my neighbour Paul Methuen has written 
(wonderful to say) a very pretty and poetical thing for it. I 
have much to say with regard to our plan, which, I think, must 
be altered — Annuals have now become so common." "Did 
you see there was an East India Ship, called the Lalla Rookh, 



142 

arrived ? The owners of it, I find, meditated giving me and 
Bessy a party on board, had we not left town so soon." " I 
send you also the continuation of the Sketches in Pere La 
Chaise, of which you already had the commencement. You 
shall have the conclusion by another opportunity, though it 
is hardly worth while sending it, as I have resolved to w r rite 
a verse Tale on the first Anecdote, which is a most 
admirable subject for such a purpose, and which, 1 think, I 
shall make something very touching of." " The conclusion of 
the Sketch of Pere La Chaise (which, I consider, one of the 
best specimens of my prose style) &c." Betrays evident an- 
noyance at the popular success of the Song of " Cherry ripe." 
" Here is a duett that has cost me some trouble, both from the 
number of verses, and their metre. But the air is very pretty 
as well as odd, and, I think, will be liked. Pray send a copy 
of the Evenings in Greece to Mrs. Shelley, No. 51, George 
Street, Portman Square, with the inclosed note." 

Six Letters, 8vo. (two of two sides, one a very curious letter), 
5th, 12th, 15th, 20th, 21st, and 28th December, 1827 

" I mean to write a set of Six Legends —this and the duett I 
sent last (the Leaf and the Fountain), forming two of them. 
The name may perhaps have some attraction in it. I grieve to 
hear of your heavy Law bills, and hope, before long, that you 
will be at rest from such expenses." " I have been thinking 
a good deal lately of coming to live in town, but, as yet, only 
thinking of it. It would be as well, however, if you had an eye 
about for a small house for me. Somewhere on the verge of 
the Regent's Park (the verge nearest town), and not solitary. 
I want to hit upon some good plan for a Periodical between 
me and you, that would turn in the Coppers." " I have suc- 
ceeded in establishing a Post at Bromham,* a most desirable 

* A picturesque village in sight of Sloperton Cottage, between which and it 
there is a small verdant valley. In the parish church, referred to so playfully 



143 

thing, as you know. I have always had to send five miles for 
my letters, and have been rarely able to answer the same day 
The only thing is, that you will have to pay \0d for my letters? 
and a penny on the newspapers I send you. Do you mind this 
latter tax?" "You have here the remainder of the former 
Legend, and a Third, which I think pretty. There will be two 
more verses of this, but they are not }^et concocted. I have so 
many letters to answer to-day, that I can say no more." tl I 
sent you a little packet through Croker yesterday. "We have 
a sad prospect before us for the Christmas," &c. " Rees tells 
me they have printed off a fifth Edition of the Epicurean." 
" All this illness before us makes it, I fear, impossible for us 
to have your daughter as we expected during the Christmas. 
But 'what is deferred is not lost. 1 I expect," &c. "You 
have here another Legend, and like the former/' &c. 

One Letter, 12mo. 1827 

" I wish you would, when you have time, call at Hookham's 
in Bond Street, and bid him give you a Catalogue of his Circu- 
lating Library for me, telling him that I think of subscribing 
to it for a few months." 

Six Letters, four 4to., two 8vo., 1st, 4th, 8th, 15th, 23rd, and 
27th January, 1828 
" I have had Heath and Reynolds down here expressly to 
renew the offer of the £Z 00 per ami. They say the Keepsake 
is beating all its competitors." " Hope you have been amused 
by Hunt's cockney stuff about me and Lord Byron. 5 ' " I send 
you another Legend, and having written fourteen letters to-day, 
have not strength for a word more. To-morrow I start for 

by Moore in a dinner invitation to Lord Lansdowne (Sept. 1818), the remains 
of the Poet, with those of some of his children, now repose. 
" But as for me, who've long been taught 
To eat and drink like other people ; 
And can put up with mutton bought 

Where Brombam rears its ancient steeple," &c. 



144 

Mrs. Robert Arkwright's, and expect to come away from her 
like a bee, loaded with honey, you shall hear from me on my 
way." Nottingham. — " I have been in a constant state of 
locomotion, ever since I came into this neighbourhood, and 
have met everywhere the greatest kindness as well as readiness 
to communicate all the people here knew about Lord Byron. I 
have indeed collected some very valuable materials, and hope 
to find still more. To-morrow morning I start for Mrs. Robert 
Arkwright's, and expect from my visit all sorts of treasures, 
both Byronian and musical, as Hodgson (Lord B.'s great friend 
and correspondent) is to meet me there. My money is run 
short," &c. " Mrs. Arkwright gives me everything," &c. 

Seven Letters, three 4to., four 8vo. (one of two sides), 9th 
February, 4th, 10th, 20th, 22nd, 28th, and 30th March, 
1828 
" Send ten shillings for me to Gale Jones, No. 5, Wilsted- 
street, Somers' Town." " Murray, the deuce is in him, has 
not yet sent me down Miss Fitzclarence's music book which 
I left with the things to follow me." " My sister has lost her 
girl — her only child. How she will bear it I cannot imagine. 
I know no more dreadful trial." " I have by to-day's post two 
or three applications from some more of those cursed Annuals, 
and the day before I left town a man thrust into my pocket 
(though I took care to throw it out again) a draft for 1 00 
guineas for the same number of lines in verse or prose. The 
people will soon be annually mad." " The little parcel for 
Haydon the Painter you will forward at your convenience." 
" In my hurry yesterday I left out Bessy's little one-pound rag 
(which I would not let Cobbet get a glimpse of for the world), 
and, lest you should suppose it lost, send it now through 
Benett. I hope you liked both the Pig and the Poem we sent 
yesterday. What is become of the promise of Mrs. Duff's second 
appearance? I fear the Managers have (as I thought they 



145 

would) shelf ed her."* " What I write now for is to answer your 
question about Mrs. Arkwright's Song, which I omitted to do in 
my two last. The stupid Pirates have said that the words are 
by her, and the music by a Lady of distinction, whereas the 
music is hers and the words by Tom Campbell. You have 
perfect authority from me to whom she has given her Songs to 
do anything (short of going to law) to the fellow who has pub- 
lished it. By the bye, a great difficulty in our future use of 
her Songs, will be the words she has in general selected, and 
which are other people's property." " I send you the pro- 
mised Legend," &c. " Miss Feilding is employed about some 
sketches for the Legends, and wishes they should be litho- 
graphed — what say you ?" " You had better keep my French 
papers for the parcels you send, as Croker 1 suspect will be 
kept pretty busy soon." 

Seven Letters, three 4 to., four 8vo. (one of three sides), 4th, 
6th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, and 30th April, 1828 
Glee of " The Watchman." " Your answer to Mrs. A. was 
just what it ought to be. I am only sorry that the Songs are 
not to be for our joint advantage on the cheap terms at which 
I flattered myself we already had them. You will now be 
obliged to give more for them than their sale (beautiful as they 
are with her own singing) will ever repay you. I must say 
that she would have done more fairly by me (having expressly 
made me a present of the whole collection) as well as more ad- 
vantageously by her own fame, if she had left the disposal of 
them entirely, as she said she would, to me," &c. " Like all 
ether people, rich as well as poor, she wants to make the most 

* Mrs. Duff— -Mrs. Moore's eldest sister — appeared as Isabella at Drury 
Lane on the 3rd of March, 1828, and soon after went with her husband to 
New York. " Her fright was so excessive on Monday evening, that we 
cannot pretend to form a decided opinion of her abilities from so imperfect a 
specimen ; and will therefore postpone our remarks to some more favourable 
opportunity." — Literary Gazette. 

L 



146 

she can," &c. " I have been a good d^al amused by a letter 
vou sent me, which comes from a Bookseller in Paternoster-row, 
offering to negociate with me for the work which I am said to 
have committed to the flames (vide, the Xie-terary Gazette of 
last week), and saying that he will bear me harmless through 
any legal consequences that may ensue !" " I have not been 
able to do anything towards either selecting or composing the 
remaining Airs for the Legends. Miss Fitzclarence's Collec- 
tion turns out to be mere every-day rubbish." " You may 
send through Croker as usual." " In looking over my boots 
and shoes to-day I miss an old pair of French boots with the 
galoshes I used to wear with them, which are a great loss to 
me," &c. "Miss Feilding, I find, will not let Newton or any 
one see the designs till I come to town." " I shall not be up 
till the end of May (unless the proceedings of Byron's Monu- 
ment should call me up sooner) and should like to know whe- 
ther that time will do for my financial operations, which must, 
I fear, be on somewhat a larger scale than usual, to carry me 
through this year at all comfortably." " Murray paid last 
week the ^£3000 to the Longmans with interest upon a week or 
two over the time he agreed to have paid it in." 
Six Letters, 8vo. (one of three sides), 29th April (received 2nd 
May), 3rd, 4th, 9th, 13th, and 14th May, 182S 
" I inclose you a letter (for your own private eve) which I 
have just got from Miss Feilding, and hope that there will 
be no difficulty," &c. iS You shall, however, have some time 
or other a set of all light and humorous Songs, and I shall, I 
think, take the Annals of the Fairies as my ground work ! 
' Songs of the Fairies ' would not be a bad title." " I have 
to-day had a note from Newton who will do everything for us 
we wish." " She [Mrs. Duff'] must have them by the ninth." 
I am anxious to know what further happened between you and 
Mrs. Arkwright " Refers to " The Legend of Psyche," " Tis 
the Vine," and " Love, Youth, and Age," as "unfinished." 



14/ 

" It is possible I may want help from you to bring me up, as 
my pounds are 'ebbing fast away' — but I'll try and keep 
enough for that purpose." " Lady Donegal has left 38, Berke- 
ley-square, but you will hear there where she is gone to." 
" You may send my French newspapers, if there are any, 
through Croker, as they do to read in going up." " A £5 
note would not come amiss, but this you had better send direct 
by post." 

Two Letters, one 4to., one Svo., 17th and 21th June, 1828 

** I forgot, the day I was with you at the Stationers, to order 
some writing paper, which I am in great want of — pray send 
me some (a ream will not be too much), and I should like half 
a pound of sealing wax. The paper to be like this." " Think- 
ing that you may want ' The Rose of the Desert' I send it up by 
parcel, and shall inclose the Legends as I finish them, through 
the Right Honourable (! !) Croker. You will have the goodness 
to frank the letter to Genoa for me, and put the other in the 2d 
or send it, if you can, as there is an original letter of Byron's 
inclosed." 

Six Letters, four 4to., two 8vo., 27th June, 4th, 7th, 15th, 20th 
and 25th July, 1828 
With reference to the Morning Chronicle Newspaper. — " It 
has become much better now that we are leaving it." " I wish, 
if you could think of it, you would bring me two little Fire- 
boxes (price 6d each), from Jones's, 201, Strand." " I send 
you all the words of all the twelve \Leyendary Ballads], and 
flatter myself that they are something better than ' Airs of Haut 
Ton.' I never saw such a publication as that. Bessy and I 
laughed together over it for an hour last night, she exclaiming 
all the time, 'poor Tom Bailey !' " "In the total dearth of airs 
to which I am now reduced, I think of putting in execution a 
plan that has often occurred to me of borrowing subjects from 
instrumental composers, and manufacturing them in my own 
way into songs. For this purpose, though I should have," &c, 

l 2 



148 

** I inclose you a scrap of a letter I have had from Mrs. Ark- 
wright's friend and neighbour, Hodgson. The passage that 
precedes the scrap is as follows, after mentioning your offer of 
25 guineas, he says, ' of course it was not worth her while to 
accept such a pittance even if it had been proper to do so. 
Finding that another publisher had offered 25 guineas for one 
song (supposed to be Mrs. A.'s but not hers, nor equal to any 
of her best effusions, I mean < the Captive.')' &c. &c. You will 
be the best judge what you ought to do." " I want you for 
Napier to direct the inclosed blank letter to the Editor of the 
Globe Neivspaper, and have it put in the box at the office as 
soon as possible." " Your answer was quite right, and I only 
trust she will not be exorbitant." " My money is nearly defunct 
(of its usual complaint, a galloping consumption), and as I 
must have about sixty pounds to carry me over the next two 
months, if it would not be convenient to you to lend me that 
sum for the time, &c." "I have sent in my formal resignation 
to the Times. They are getting so wrong on the Irish Ques- 
tion that I could not consistently continue even my slight con- 
nexion with them any longer." 

Six Letters, four 4 to., two 8vo., 1st, 2nd, 13th, 18th, 28th, and 
31st August, 1828 
" I have been writing such shoals of letters that I have but a 
minute to dispatch a word to you, to say that the s£30 arrived 
safe, both portions, and that we are full of thanks to you," 
&c. " I want you (if you can possibly spare time before you 
come down) to make enquiry for us relative to the ground in 
the field opposite to us, which I told you we had our eye on as a 
good site for a cottage, I had nearly given up all thoughts of it, 
but something (between ourselves) that Lord Lansdowne said 
yesterday evening, when I mentioned the plan to him has re- 
kindled my zeal on the subject." "I don't know whether I 
before told you that, in refusing the proposal of the Longmans' 
with respect td*the History of Ireland, I mentioned to them 



149 

that as the price which was mentioned (a6500), I could get as 
much from any of the scurvy annuals for a short Tale, curiously 
enough a week or two afterwards I received actually an offer of 
56500 for 100 pages prose or verse, 56250 to be paid down im- 
mediately, which, though a most tempting proposal and most 
creditable to the spirit of the proposers, I shall be able to 
decline." Miss Feilding's designs, — " Mrs. Arkwright's trans- 
action with you has certainly more of the Spinning Jenny in it 
than I expected from her ; but the object for which she wants 
the money is, I know, a good and kind one." " Lady Lans- 
downe expressed great regret at your not coming that day. 
The Feildings were there, and the fair artist was very much dis- 
appointed." " To-morrow I am off to the Salisbury Music 
Meeting, which I fear will be but a dull concern." " I have 
been idling this week past at the Salisbury Music Meeting and 
at Lord Carnarvon's, where I went with Lord Lansdowne on 
his way to the Continent." 

One Letter, 4 to. September 2nd, 1828 

" Here is the third verse, with the air, as well as I can 
recollect it, if you are not prepossessed in favour of the title I 
first put, I should rather have it called ' Beauty and Song,' as 
I see Bay ley has something about the Nightingale and Rose in 
his Butterfly, and I should like as little as possible to be mixed 
up with his Butterflies. I don't know whether I mentioned to 
you that Lady William Lennox told me she sings ■ the Bashful 
Lover' and the Romaika every where in Society, and Lord 
William (who is become thoroughly professional) added, ' I think 
we shall make the best hit of the Bashful Lover next year that 
has ever been made for a long time.' Theodore Hook, she says, 
makes her sing ' the Bashful Lover' over and over for ever for 
him. You know (such is the difference of tastes) that I was 
always a little ashamed of this Song, and indeed, had I not 
seen that you were a little pleased with it, I should have left it 
out of the Collection. [ am now glad I did it not. We have 



150 

ordered some books, which Bessy wished you to give Murray 
for his boy, and if the Longmans have not sent them, pray dis- 
patch a Messenger for them, and let Bessy have them down 
immediately." 

Four Letters, one 4 to. (three sides), three 8vo., 3rd, 11th, 19th, 

and 23rd September, 1828 

" "We are off I trust in the morning for Southampton." 

" Our lodgings at Southampton are at a Music Shop ! Mr. 

William Smart's, 58, High Street." Sends two verses, with 

Musical notation of 

iC Love o'er all unseen presiding." 

u I returned from Southampton last night." " I have found 
my table covered with all sorts of claims on my time and pen." 
" I have been occupied almost ever since I came home in 
answering the heaps of infernal letters I found on my return." 

Three Letters, two 4to. (one of two sides), one 8vo. (of three 
sides), 1st, 5th, and 18th October, 1828 
" I am deep in arrears to you every way. I ought long 
since to have returned you your ^660," &c. " If these appear- 
ances of War become serious I shall have occasion to come up 
to town to arrange something, with Croker's assistance, about 
my Bermuda office, and then we shall have a talk upon our 
Miscellany, &c. &c." " You will I fear think me extinct and 
so I have been almost, at times, from anxiety and remorse of 
idleness." " All these things coming upon me in my solitude 
have disabled me from working, and I am behind hand in every 
thing, except spending money, which goes at Southampton like 
wild-fire." "I have this year an income before me (not count- 
ing you, which will be all the other way) of sixteen hundred 
pounds, so please God there is no fear." " I suppose you 
heard from Clark the trick the Keepsake gentlemen have 
played upon me. Having offered me six hundred pounds for 
my name, on being refused they took it for nothing. I ought 



151 

not to have been so lenient with them as I have been.. The 
Longmans' have, I hope, sent you my Squibs/' 

Three Letters, two 4to., one 8vo. (four sides), 3rd, 9th, and 
14th November, 1828 
Miss Feilding's desigus — expected soon back, "she is now at 
her uncle, Lord Ilchester's." Various commissions. "The 
note is for Moore, the sculptor — I forgot his direction." " I 
do not see why Bishop should claim the arrangement of Sphor's 
air, as he had the good taste to leave it exactly as it was, (with 
the exception of a few notes of symphony), saying it could not 
be better, which was very true." " There must be a complete 
change in all our proceedings, though what, I have not made 
up my mind to. Something new must be hit upon, or we 
shall grow 'flat, stale, and unprofitable' — three devilish bad 
things." " I forgot to thank you for the nice fish, which is even 
a better thing salted than fresh." " I have been asked to go to 
Lord Jersey's on my way up, but I shall reserve my visit, I 
think, till my return." 

Five Letters, one 4to. four 8vo. (two of two sides), Oth, 13th, 
19th, 24th, and 30th December, 1828 

" You can have no difficulty, I should think, in telling which 
is the old hat of the two. It is new lined -must be of a much 
browner colour than the other, and is a particularly heavy and 
hard hat, but will be very useful here to save my best one." 
" The grand fish arrived safe, and the Grand Turk would not 
be received so welcomely. A. merry Christmas to you and 
yours." "I send you a beautiful air (and I think not ill sup- 
plied with words), which will do for our Greek work." " The 
idea I have now adopted for the beginning of our Second 
Evening is a Masquerade — which will afford (when I can execute 
it properly), a most beautiful ground work for all sorts of 
lyrical subjects — but the truth is, I am now so hard driven to 
get out my Byron within the season," &c. " I have the more 



152 

reluctance in asking you for so long a pause from work, as I 
shall be obliged to make use of your name for three months on, 
to bring me within reach of the supplies I shall then be entitled 
to from Murray, and to have you so much in advance to me, 
without any set ofT in work, is a very uncomfortable feeling to 
me, whatever your good nature may make it to you." 

Five Letters, one # 4to., four 8vo. One dated " Wednesday," 
the others undated (1828) 
" One will do very well" (to meet Bishop), " I meant to have 
come to you to-day, but the Duke of Sussex, whom I called 
upon, took it into his royal head to read me a long pamphlet, 
which kept me all day, I shall be with you, however, before 
one to-morrow." " Many thanks for the fine fish ! I think 
you need not fear Win. Spencer — but, if you like, I could 
write to him — though I feel sure you may print the verses." 
"I have had rather bad accounts of my poor mother's health — 
but she is, by to-day's news better," "pray get me two or three 
pair of gloves at Gibbon's, Coventry Street, opposite Haymarket, 
such as my last." 

Four Letters, two 4 to. (one two sides, the other three sides), 

one 8vo., one 12mo. ; 2nd, 11th, and two 19th January, 

1829 

" Many thanks, my dear Sir, for your very friendly assent to 

my wishes. Be assured that I shall make up for lost time 

when I again buckle to, &c." " I think the present order of 

the Legends will do very well, only putting perhaps e the Voice' 

instead of the ' Stranger/ the former being a more elegant and 

taking air (at least in my opinion) than the other." Annual 

dance at Bowood. Six verses of eight lines each entitled, "the 

true Gem." 

" Said Love to Friendship ' Let us away 
To yonder island shore — 
Tis fairy ground — it's soil, they say 
With gems is sparkling o'er," &c. 
Domestic afflictions. 



153 

Six Letters, three 4to., three 8vo., (two of two sides — a portion 
of the other torn off), 4th, 13th, 15th— 24th, and 26th 
February, 1829 

Wishes for a set of proofs of the music of the Legendary- 
Ballads, rt that I might be able to sing it to my neighbours at 
Laycock Abbey." Dedication to the Miss FEildings. " You 
are a lucky man in the health of your children." " You must 
find out where Mr. Joy lives — he is a bookseller or publisher, 
but too fashionable to put his place of abode." " It is a hard 
trial," {a most painful letter). " We felt the kindness of your 
letter most thoroughly, and it is not impossible but we may 
accept your very friendly offer, for which both you and Mrs. 
Power have our heartiest thanks. Indeed if anything could 
console one for such a calamity, the sympathy and actual friend- 
ship we experience on all sides ought to do so." "Do not 
mention to people my coming, as there are but few I wish to 
see." " In fac*t it would be folly to deceive ourselves with hope. 
We must only go through with it and bear it as we can." 

Six Letters, three 4to., three 8vo., 4th (two), 8th, 12th, 25th, 
and 29th March, 1829 

"Many thanks for the fish," &c. Introduction to the 
Legendary Ballads. Death of Anastasia Mary, # only daughter 
of Thomas Moore, Esq. " I write but to thank you for your 
kind feeling note, and to beg," &c. el We shall drink your 
health to-day as well as eat your good fish." " The name is to 
be spelt as I have done it here with the E before the I. Lady 
Elizabeth would never have forgiven such a disparagement of 
the ancient name as the I being foremost." " I must again 
put you to your old trade of house hunting for me. Dr. Starkey 
and my landlord have come to an arrangement which still 
admits of my cottage being rebuilt and made comfortable for us, 
and with a much larger interest in it. We shall therefore turn 

* Aged nearly sixteen. 



154 

out for building purposes in a short time, and take some small 
house or retired lodgings in or near town during the interval I 
am employed in publishing (about three or four months). 
After that we mean to pay our long promised visit to my 
mother, and I shall devote a few weeks to the poetical tour we 
have sometimes talked of, for a tenth and last Number of our 
Melodies." "The Lansdownes have very kindly offered us 
their villa at Richmond after Whitsuntide, and it is not unlikely 
we may go to it." 

Four Letters, three 4to., one 8vo., 6th, 12th, 16th, and 17th 
April, 1829 
" I send you a sketch of a melancholy song I have done 
within this day or two, and which when retouched and im- 
proved, will be one of the prettiest things I have for a long 
time produced." "My expenses have been lately enormous, 
and there are still more heavy ones before me, but, with a little 
help, I shall pull through." Bowood, (l I have come here to 
work alone for a week or two previous to my coming to town," 
&c. " I had gone pretty far in a more extended Introduction 
announcing that this would be the last Collection I should pre- 
sent the Public with (excepting only a tenth Number of Irish 
Melodies, and a second Evening in Greece), but, on second 
thoughts, I believe it is as well not to tie myself down so 
hastily." " I walked into Devizes yesterday (seven miles)." &c. 

Three Letters, one 4to., two 8vo., 1st May, 20th June, 24th 
July, 1829 

" I am ashamed of having given so much trouble about this 
short advertisement," &c. Richmond Hill, " I wish, too, if 
you have time to-day that you would make arrangements with 
your Solicitor Clark for seeing as soon as he conveniently can 
our old friend of the three acres, on the subject of the purchase, 
— the less time we lose now about it the better, as the building 
ought to be commenced as soon as possible." 



155 

Two Letters, one 4to., one 8vo., 8th August, 17th September, 
1829 
[Mr. Moore's residence at Richmond and Mr. Power's absence 
from London will account for this break in the usual corres- 
pondence.^ "I hope you are by this time returned safe home," 
&c. " Here is an alteration in the end of the third verse of that 
song I gave you, together with the fourth verse." See [Second 
Evening in Greece, the song commencing " Who comes so grace- 
fully.'"] Brooks's, Thursday, "There is again a chance of 
old Slop." 

Three Letters, two 4to., one 8vo. — and 29th November, 9th 
December, 1829 
" I thought to have taken the inclosed to you myself, but 
having been the whole day sitting to Sir Thomas Lawrence 
could not manage it." Directions about " Abernethy bisctiits 
and maccaroni at two shillings a pound from Morell's in Picca- 
dilly." " I got down very agreeably, and find these apartments 
made most wonderfully comfortable for my reception — such a 
metamorphosis (since I saw them filled with washing tubs and 
flitches of bacon) could not be conceived." 

Four Letters, two 4 to., two 8vo. (one of two sides), 2nd, 14th> 
19th, and 27th January, 1830 
lt You perceive we have lost our dear friend Lady Donegall,* 
one of the truest and most unchanging during a space, of seven 
and twenty years that it has ever been my lot to know. I now 
begin to feel great alarm about my mother in this most trying 
weather." Carpet slippers. " From an article in the Times 
to-day I take for granted my book will soon be in the hands of 
everybody. I feel somewhat in a twitter about it ; though 
rather less than on other occasions, from having such a Hercu- 

* Barbara, Marchioness (dowager) of Donegall,died, No. 17, Curzon Street, 
on the 28th December, 1829. She was the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Luke 
Godfrey, uncle to Sir William Godfrey, Bart., and was the third wife of 
Arthur the fifth Earl and first Marquis of Dontjgall, who died Jan. 5, 1799. 



156 

lean pair of shoulders as Byron's to shift part of the responsi- 
bility to." Hood's Comic Annual. " I have every morning 
shoals of congratulations and eulogies on the subject of my book, 
which seems to be doing'wonders." " Next week I shall be in 
town." 

Three Letters, one 4to., one 8vo. (two sides), one 12mo., 13th 
and 16th March, 20th April, 1830 
" I was in hopes I should be able to be up in time for the 
Shamrock day, as I should like to see how my brother Paddies 
look after being emancipated, but every day here is so precious 
to me," &c. " I am coming to London's hateful den again." 
" I have been so pressed and put out of my way for these months 
past that I • take no note of time,' nor of any thing else," &c. 
Mentions "Weber's wild witch like style" of music. 

Four Letters, three 4 to., one 8vo., 27th July, 10th, 14th and 
25th August, 1830 
tl I have been in daily expectation of receiving the things I 
left for you to dispatch after me." "We have been now for 
some days in our new cottage, and find it most dry and com- 
fortable. There cannot be a nicer house for its size." " We 
think of sailing the latter end of next week. You will see that 
the Dublin papers have been rather premature in announcing 
their ' distinguished countryman's arrival.' " 96, Abbey Street, 
" We were most lucky in our weather, and I am now glad beyond 
what I can say that I brought both boys with me — it has made 
my mother so happy. Already every body remarks how im- 
proved she is in looks." 

Four Letters, two 4to. (one two sides), two 8vo. (one two sides) 

4th, 5th, 1/th, and 25th October, 1830 

" Yesterday evening we arrived all safe and well at Sloperton, 

our heads almost turned with kead mille fealthods, and my 

pockets turned inside out with our expenditure. You never 

saw any thing like the enthusiasm of my reception every where 



157 

in Ireland. They have now set their hearts upon bringing me 
into Parliament for some county, and had there been a vacancy 
at this moment I could hardly have escaped the honour. Ste- 
venson I did not see. He was confined with illness during the 
first weeks of our stay, and though I called two or three times 
I could never see him. He then set off for Lord Headfort's, where 
we were asked to meet him, but in the whirl and multiplicity 
of our engagements we were unable to compass it. By all ac- 
counts the poor fellow is completely past his work. I am told 
he says of his legs (looking down mournfully at them) ' Oh, by 
G — d they are very good legs — -but they won't walk.' You 
must manage to lend me twenty or thirty pounds (the latter if 
possible) for a few weeks, till I can put matters in train for 
raising the supplies. I am (to use the slang phrase) completely 
' cleaned out,' but shall now turn in for a long spell of labour, 
and have little doubt of being soon quits with you and all other 
kind creditors. The building and this journey coming together 
have been a fatal blow to my finances." " The reason of my 
not writing to you more than once from Dublin was very simple. 
It was the same as that given by Joe Maddocks to the Princess 
of Wales, when she said to him, f For why you not speak, Mr. 
Maddocks V — ' Because Ma'am,' answered Joe, ' I have nothing 
to say.' Not having been able to see Stevenson, I had nothing par- 
ticular to communicate to you, and being in such a whirl both of 
mind and body as caused me to neglect but too much one of the 
most important objects of my visit to Dublin, I thought I knew 
you well enough to feel quite sure that you would excuse any 
omission of mere letter writing, &c." " I send you some more of 
the Summer Fete, which will still spread out to two or three 
hundred lines more. All good for your letterpress book. I 
inclose also Lady Headfort's letter, which you will return to 
me some time or other. You had already seen the mention of 
poor Stevenson's paralytic attack in the newspapers." " I have 
been passing three days with the Duchess of Kent and our little 



158 

future Queen at Earl Stoke Park, and we had a great deal of 
music. The Duchess sung some of my Melodies with me better 
than I ever heard them performed. I promised to send her 
some of the Songs of mine she most liked, and I should he glad 
if you would get them bound together (not too expensively) for 
me to present to her. They are as follows. ' Meeting of Ships — 
Indian Boat— The Evening Grun — Say what shall be our Sport, 
(can you detach this from the Nationals?) — Keep your Tears 
for me— The Watchman — I. love but thee (beginning ' If after 
all')— Reason and Folly and Beauty. She has promised me 
copies of some very pretty German things she sung." 

Seven Letters, four 4to. (one of two sides) three 8vo., 1st, 4th, 
5th, 10th, 17th, 19th, and 29th November, 1830 
" I think it the most respectful way (as well as most mo- 
dest) to send only the songs she asked for." Sir John Ste- 
venson. "I have been sadly interrupted of late — but it seems 
my destiny." " I wish you could get for me and send by the 
first opportunity the Daily Diary or Remembrancer (I don't 
know which it is called (at Bailey's I think, No. 9, Fleet 
Street.) I want the large size at 65." I have written a Comic 
Duett for two Almacks Dandies (Male and Female) which as 
soon as I have finished- the verses that introduce it, you shall 
have." " I wish you would send me by next parcel the last 
number of the Belle Assemblee and any French Magazine that 
may be about fashions, as I want to dress my two Dandy people 
properly." " I was in hope of a letter from you this morning 
to say whether dear Tom was (as well as his Majesty) prevented 
by the Ministers from coming out. What a farce (a tragical 
one) the great Duke has made of it." " I send you the cor- 
rected music and 100 lines more of the Summer Fete." — u You 
will be a little startled, I fear, to see the instruments of War 
I am sending to you, but it is for a purpose which I have long 
intended, though the state of our neighbourhood just now has 
put it more immediately in my head. I want you to get 



159 

new locks to these pistols for me, and whatever else may be 
necessary to make them sound and trust-worthy. They were 
given me some years since by a genuine Sir Lucius G'Trigger 
of my acquaintance, and my neighbour Napier says they are 
excellent pistols, but at present dangerous (not to one's ene- 
mies but one's friends) from the state of the locks." "I do 
not fear the hundreds of poor devils that are congregating on 
all sides, and whose aim is entirely (as it ought to be) against 
the parsons and landlords. They are not likely to molest me 
— but the stray stragglers from these great bodies and the 
number of ruffians that will take advantage of this state of 
things to rob and plunder are the evils that are most to be 
dreaded through the long nights of winter, and if we stay here 
(which it is just possible we may not) I should not like to be 
undefended." e< Since I wrote the within one of the locks has 
broken off with a touch." 

Four Letters, two 4to., two Svo., 3rd, 10th, 11th, and 23rd De- 
cember, 1830 
" I have done some more of the Fete, bringing in two more 
of our stray Songs, so that there remain but three or four more 
(if so much) to finish it." " We find the mould candles here so 
bad that we wish to try some of your London ones ; and would 
be glad to have a box down by waggon. By buying them for 
me you can, I suppose, leave them to be paid by me. Best 
regards to all your large little circle. The candles are to be 
long fours." 

Two Letters, one Svo., one 12mo., undated (1830) 

" Three or four days ago I wrote to Sandon (19, Bury Street) 
to know whether his second floor would be vacant this next 
week and he has not answered me. You could perhaps * stir 
him up with a long pole' on the subject to-morrow, as I am 
rather in a difficulty about a lodging, and would not go to his 
but from my hatred of strange places and faces." 



160 

whelmed with devilish letters. — One of the inclosed is to the 
Artists Proprietors of the National Gallery, who have applied 
to me (on account of that < taste which flows almost exclusively 
from my pen') to write the dedication to their work to the 
King. I have just despatched off another answer to an appli- 
cation from York for me to write the inscription on a 
monument they are erecting there to the seven young 
people who were drowned ! There is no end to these applica- 
tions." 

Five Letters, two 4to., three 8vo., 2nd, 13th, ISth, 25th and 
31st January, 1831. 
" A merry new year to you and yours" — " To write a gen- 
teel comic Song is no easy matter. I have tried at different 
subjects till I am tired, and now have produced one that has 
too much ivit (at least what was meant for wit) for a Song. 
However as tune or no tune I mean to keep it in — I send it to 
you." <f I am bleeding at every pore, in the money way. 
Building and furniture, &c. is now running away with more 
than s6300, in addition to the a£200 I paid in the summer. 
However once over it, and with jEIO a year rent, I shall ma- 
nage perhaps to get into smooth water again." " Some you 
cannot touch. But the Canadian Boat Song I certainly altered, 
and so I did c The last Rose of Summer.' My Romaika they 
have stolen under the title of Sappho and given the name Ro- 
maike to another Waltz in the same set. The Titles I should 
think are fair game for you to fly at." Mentions his "high- 
built nest" at Bowood. " I have been employed these two days 
in routing up Irish Melodies, and think we shall be able to 
make a very good show in the 10th Number." "You shall 
hear from me soon about Wade's MS." 

Four Letters, two 4to. two Svo., 8th, 10th, 17th and 28th 
February, 1831 
"I shall have great cutting and slashing on the Slips" (of 



1GI 

the Summer Fete). " I have just heard such intelligence from 
Dublin as makes it necessary for me to start immediately. You 
shall hear from me on my road, or from Dublin. I fear I shall 
hardly find my poor mother alive." " I know you will be glad 
to hear that my dearest mother has rallied in the most extraor- 
dinary way, and that I am able to leave her with the hope that 
she is in a fair way of recovery.* It has astonished every one, 
and a great deal of it is certainly owing to the vigour and com- 
posure of her mind which exceeds any thing I could have ex- 
pected even from her in such circumstances. I have seen poor 
Stevenson, who is a sad wreck, but still full of laugh and fun 
(at least while I was with him) and as much a Dandy as ever 
— quite a Lord Ogleby." " Myself and my cold (which still 
sticks to me) arrived here safe on Friday night, finding all 
pretty well at home." 

Four Letters, three 4to. one 8vo., 6th, 10th, 11th and 18th 
March, 1831 
""What interesting doings you have up in town just now!" 
" Pray look in the last (or last but one Evening Post) for a 
letter of Arthur O'Connor's and put the proper Number to the 
address of the inclosed which you must frank off to-morrow 
for me. It is to ask a question of him." Enquiry about a 
watch. " As soon as my Lord Edward is off my hands, I 
mean before I commence any thing else to take a long spell at 
Music." 

Three Letters, two 4to. one 12mo. (two sides), 5th, 9th and 
17th April, 1831 
<e I trust you will be able to hasten the publication [of the 
Summer Fete~] as I should like to have two such things as my 

* Mrs. Moore survived fifteen months after this. She died at Dublin on 
the 10th May, 1832. The Gentleman's Magazine records that " Her intel- 
lect was of the highest order, and it is stated to have been a fixed rule with 
Mr. Moore to write twice a week to her." 



162 

Life of Lord Edward and this gay poem coming out as near as 
possible together. I want you to manage a little matter for 
me in which we are both interested. A gentleman lent me a 
set of Bohemian Airs, from which I have selected about a 
dozen, which are just of the very sort to catch the popular ear, 
and yesterday I sent the book back to him, forgetting to erase 
the pencil marks which I had made before the airs to be 
selected. This, ever since I have recollected it, worries me, as it 
will be a guide for him and others to the few airs I have appro- 
priated out of the 400 in the book, and somebody else might 
be tempted to make use of them. I have therefore written the 
inclosed to him to say that the book was sent off without my 
knowledge, and that there is an air or two more I want to tran- 
scribe if he will allow me to have them again. You must send 
this to his house immediately, and if he should not send the 
book to you, as I bid him, by Monday evening, you had better 
perhaps write a note on Tuesday morning to say that you have 
a parcel making up for me, and understanding that he has some 
music to send me, take the liberty of apprising him." 

Four Letters, three 4 to., two 8vo., 9th, 13th, 21st and 22nd 
May, 1831 
" I send you a most beautiful Air (which the Duchess of 
Kent by the bye gave me) and which I have succeeded, I 
think, in matching with words most luckily." 

Four Letters, one 4to., three 8vo., 1st, 3rd, 6th and 7th July, 
1831 
" In addition to the other bother I bequeathed you in com- 
ing away, T wish," &c. " I found all here very well." 
"Thanks, my dear Sir, for the fine salmon, which I am within 
half an hour at this moment of attacking," 
Five Letters, 8vo., 13th, 17th, 19th, 20th and 30th July, 1831 
' ' Not to lose time I send you back the two proofs and 
Horn's Song, which is, I think, very good indeed, and with 



163 

much more feeling than any thing of his I have ever seen. 
We are just about to prepare for our Archery Fete to-day and 
looking very anxiously at the sky. Your supply of fish for 
the occasion is most magnificent." '• I expect my Life of 
Lord Edward will be out next week." " The proofs that are 
in the Box you will throw by somewhere till I return to town 
to destroy them." 

Five Letters and a Song, four 4to.,two 8vo., 2nd, 7th, (two), 2 1st, 
22nd, and 28th August, 1831 
•'* I had just sat down to copy out two new things for you, when 
Napier brought a Scotch friend of his to visit me, and I must 
defer my task till to-morrow." " I hope your copy of Lord 
Edward was among the first sent as I ordered." " I send you 
the 4th verse of the last Anthology Song and words to be set 
for our Second Evening in Greece. This forms one of the 
groups or pictures I told you of — an Arab girl and her lover 
conversing by signs in presence of her parents. He kissing a 
lotus flower (which is the emblem of beauty among the Arabs) 
and she holding up to him a small Mirror, such as the Arab 
women wear fastened to their thumbs. You shall have the 
verses descriptive of the same in the course of this week." Song 
and Duett of The Lotus and the Mirror (unpublished) two 
Verses, 

" Love hath a language of his own, 
A voice, that goes 
From heart to heart, whose mystic tone 
Love only knows," &c. 
The Longmans have sold nearly the whole 1500 of my Lord 
Edward, which will be, they say, about £500 to the credit side 
of my account, another 1500 is what it ought to sell, but *-■■ ■ 
I fear it won't." 

Five Letters, one 4 to., four 8vo. (three of two sides), 5th, 1 4th, 
17th, 20th, and 26th September, 1831 
11 Have you yet looked out Napier's verses for me ? you will 

m 2 



164 

know them by the odd upright hand writing, and let the ori- 
ginal stay where it is, till I decide what I (or we) shall do with 
them." " I have heard a good deal about my brother lyrist, 
but he is not, I think, in the King's Bench." * * * " in 
short the whole * Butterfly bower' is blown in the air. Poor 
devil!" " I have been engaged in a task which, of all others, 
I dislike — namely, writing an Article for the Edinburgh Review, 
having long promised the Editor I would give him one, and 
wishing also to oblige the Longmans." "The Air was given 
to me by Young, the actor." " Young lives in Pall Mall, I think." 
" Pray pay the inclosed to Paris ; it is in answer to a communi- 
cation from no less a personage than the King of France about 
my book." "I am almost ashamed to tell you how pleased 
I was with the things of my own you sent me. I had forgot 
all of them but their names, and they come therefore fresh upon 
me. I have seldom, if ever, written anything so truly lyrical 
as two or three of them are. I was also glad for another reason, 
as two of them will come in most charmingly for our second 
(and last) Evening, so that we have now at least five or six 
pretty things towards it." " What you sent me is not Napier's, 
nor was it, I think, among the things I gave you with Napier's; 
for those were for the Miscellany, and this (which I inclose) was 
merely given for you to have set by somebody. Napier's verses 
were, if I recollect right, with a little packet of verses, prose, 
&c. chiefly of my own, which I intended for the Miscellany. 
Translations from Catullus, Sketches of Pere La Chaise, 
&c. There was also some verses of Luttrel's which are now 
of no use, as on understanding that I had given up the idea 
of a Miscellany, lie made a present of them to his Son, who 
got twenty guineas for them from the Keepsake. Pray look 
again for his verses. It shows how much better supplied I am 
with words than with airs that (as I find by the MSS. you have 
sent me) I have actually written two sets of words to each of 
two airs — bigamy in Song completely. I must now find part- 



165 

ners for the discarded wives, which are both (though I say it 
that should'nt say it) pretty" " I understated the duplicate 
words I had written ; there were no less than three airs to 
which I had put two sets of words each." "What do you 
think of Murray ? Besides the 8vo. Edition of my life of Byron, 
which he has printed, he is going now to publish a small one 
like the Waverley Novels to come out Monthly, with vignettes, 
&c. My portrait, from Lawrence, to be among the engravings 
— what enormous expenditure !" 

Four Letters, one 4to., three 8vo., 2nd, 11th, 21st, and 24th 
October, 1831 
" You have here my attempt at setting ' Guess, Guess,' 
[printed in Collected Edition of Moore's works, until then 
unpublished^] for our Greek work. I have not been able to 
satisfy myself, but I think when Bishop and I meet, we shall 
contrive to make something pretty out of it." "The Napiers 
have been passing their last two farewell days with us, which 
has interrupted me. I was very sorry not to have his verses to 
give him, and cannot think why you have not sent them to me. 
I have some little idea of coming up to town to take leave of 
poor Sir W. Seott, who has expressed a wish to see me before 
he goes. I am told he is a good deal better." " I had some- 
thing to send you yesterday, but as you will see myself on 
Wednesday or Thursday, I may as well be the bearer of it. 
My chief object in coming up is to see Sir W. Scott before his 
departure, and Murray has also some matters to consult me 
upon relative to the illustrations of his New Edition of the Life, 
&c. &c. so I go to his house for the few days I stay. I was dis- 
appointed in not receiving my Edinburgh Review which I suppose 
was sent to you. If so, open it and read Shiel's Article upon 
Lord Edward, and also (as I know you are fond of the Church) 
an Article entitled 'State of Protestantism in Germany,' which 
is the one I told you I was employed about ; — but this you will 
keep to yourself. I am sorry I gave you such trouble about 



166 

these verses of Napier's, but I felt quite sure they were among 
the Miscellany Papers. I suppose I have them myself some- 
where. I will see you if possible on Wednesday evening." 
" I got down very comfortably," &c. "I want you to go as 
soon as you can conveniently, to a book-shop in Piccadilly, not 
far from Bond Street, and on that side of the way, which con- 
tains books labelled with their prices in the window, and there 
to buy me a copy of Bland's Anthology which I saw in the 
window, but was in too great a hurry at the time to stop to 
purchase it. It is marked 12 shillings, but yow will, I dare say, 
get it for less." "You shall have, by to-morrow's post, the 
Dedication and Introduction to the Summer Fete. I don't 
know what to do with that thing you have so often sent me, 
* Good bye, my youth' — having tried over and over to make 
something tolerable of it, without success. I shall see, how- 
ever, whether upon the same thought, and taking what sailors 
call ■ a fresh departure,' I may not do something better." 

Five Letters, one 4 to., four 8vo., 2nd, 7th, 9th, 19th, and 28th 
November, 1831 
" I send you a very pretty Air of Miss Houlton's, to which 
I was very glad to. be able to write nice words." The Cholera 
panic. " I dare say Doctor Russell himself would, in the event 
of the disease actually reaching London, dismiss the whole 
school, as that part of the town would be of all others least 
eligible in such circumstances. But I should not like you to 
wait for this, but on the first intelligence of the approach of 
Cholera to do as I have said above, shewing this letter to Doc- 
tor Russell as your authority for what you do. The News- 
papers to-morrow morning may perhaps decide me as to the 
steps to take, but in the mean time (that is, between this and 
your hearing from me again) I leave all to your own discre- 
tion." " Many thanks for the good fish, which feasted Miss 
Starkey, Hughes and ourselves yesterday. I want you to go 
with the letter to Rogers yourself, and to ask whether he is in 



167 

town — if not, enquire his address (that is, if he is not expected 
back soon), and, directing the letter accordingly, put it in the 
post." "I see the alarm from Cholera has subsided ; but we 
shall have it yet." "They had some hundred policemen sta- 
tioned in the Charter House the other day. What a state 
England is brought to!" Directions to bind a copy of the 
Irish Melodies " for a wedding present, and the sooner it is 
done the better." 

Five Letters, one 4to., three 8vo., one 12mo., 8th (two) and 
28th December. Two undated (one of two sides), 1831 
Note (undelivered) to the Rev. Doctor Russell, of the Char- 
ter House. " I have had just time to read over Mr. Wade's 
MS. and dispatch it back to you. I find it is merely a 
History of Ancient Music, and, though appearing to be done 
with considerable talent, by no means comprises the part 
of the subject which would make it a work of much general 
interest. This is all I have to say, but you may shew him 

. this note, with my compliments and best thanks for the flatter- 
ing manner in which he has spoken of myself. The piracies 
another time. It is too bad of the fellows to rob me of my 
Romaika." " The books need not be bound, nor need they 
come down to me, as it will be sufficient to write in them. 
' From the Author,' and the persons that occur to me at pre- 
sent, are C. C. F. Greville, Esq. 11, Suffolk Street, Haymarket, 
(I think it is 11, but you will know at the Council Office), 
Lady Frances L. Gower, Bridgewater House, Cleveland Row, 
and Henry Luttrel, Esq. Brookes' Club House. You had 
better, I think, send one also to E. L. Bulvver, Esq. M.P., 
1 from the Author.' He is, you know, Colburn's Editor, and 
lives in Hereford Street, May Fair. As to Barnes and Jerdan, 
if you send copies to them, you may put ' from the Author ' or 
not, just as you think adviseable." " If I puzzled Bishop, he 
has, in return, puzzled me still more. The fact is, though his 
accompaniments are beautiful, he has, by the alterations he has 



168 

made, changed the whole character of the Air," &c. " I can- 
not find where my verses, ' Die where you will/ have been pub- 
lished, but, I rather think, it must have been in the last editions 
of the Two-penny Post Bag, or, perhaps, of the Fudge Family 
— at the end." 

Four Letters, one 4 to. (two sides) three 8vo. (one of two sides), 
lOthj 17th, 21st, and 31st January, 1832 
"Our dissipations here continue, but, thank God ! the meet- 
ing of Parliament will rid me soon of all this idling. I have 
had lately most splendid offers from Colburn (through his new 
Editor), to furnish Squibs to his Magazine — but have declined. 
' Terms (says Bulwer in his letter) which only so opulent a 
publisher as Mr. Colburn could afford to offer.' I could not? 
however, let this boast pass without saying, that liberal as was 
Mr. Colburn's offer, I must do the Magnificos of the Times 
the justice to say that it fell short of them. It was for such 
things as I sent the Times he had asked." " Murray writes 
me word that his new Edition is doing very well. Have you 
observed the usual shuffling in his advertisements of it ? At 
first suppressing my name altogether, and now putting it the 
most prominent, as if the whole was edited by me. There 
never was such an odd fellow." Sends "the MS. of that 
tiresome namesake of mine, to whom you may give a pound 
for me, if you think he is really so wretched as he says." 
"The address of my namesake is 48, Chandos Square, St. 
Martin's Lane. The poor devil, as a last hope, has since 
written to beg a copy of the Summer Fete, meaning, of course, 
to pawn it. Let hiin have the Sovereign instead." 

Two Letters, 8vo., 19th and 26th February, 1832 

" I am very nearly well of my Influenza, and hope you and 
yours keep free of all aches and alarms, in these alarming times." 
" I have nothing for you in the way of work to-day," &c. 

Six Letters, four 4to. (one unsigned), two 8vo. (one of two 
sides), 8th, ilth, 14th, 18th, 21st, 23rd March, 1832 



169 

" I send you more of the Evening ; the four last lines not 
yet finished. My closing scene will be a puzzler, as I wish to 
make it both a lively and probable termination of the whole 
work by bringing the absent Warriors home, while the young 
ladies are at supper. As to pictures this poem abounds with 
them ; but where is the artist ?" " I don't know where Crofton 
Croker lives, and this letter being upon a subject in which a 
neighbour of mine is interested I wish it forwarded by Twopenny 
Post immediately." " My own movements will also a good deal 
depend on the answer, as it will decide, I think, whether I shall 
go before Patrick's day, or after." "Did I tell you of another 
Magazine Editor being at me with all sorts of good offers ? The 
new opponent of Blackwood in Edinburgh. He got the usual 
answer. They appear to be making great efforts for this new 
start." " Doctor Russell's answer has decided me not to come 
up till the end of next week, which will suit me much better 
(all except the losing St. Paddy's day)." "I have had no 
formal requisition yet from Limerick, but I rather think they 
mean to tempt me. What they propose is a subscription among 
the women of Ireland for the purpose, which would certainly be a 
very pretty way of doing the thing." " There was a Grand 
Fancy Entertainment given at a private house in Bath lately, 
consisting of scenes out of Lalla Rookh and the Evenings in 
Greece ; the Music of the latter got up by professors. They 
ought to have asked the author to it." 

Three Letters, 4to., 11th, 13th, and 26th April, 1832 

" I have not been able to finish copying out the lines I showed 
you in town sufficiently soon to go in this cover; but they and 
more shall go next time." " I should like to have at the same 
time a copy of the Summer Fete, for which I fear, by your 
account, I am your best customer." "A man called upon me 
yesterday, who told me he had enquired for me at your house 
on Tuesday. Harding, the bookseller of Cornhill. He came 
expressly by the Mail to offer me 1000 guineas for a Poem — 



170 

the third of the size of Lalla Rookh — to have illustrated in the 
manner of Rogers's. I asked him was he aware that Rogers's 
book had cost him 567000 ? He said, yes— ' But then the 
badness of the times/ said I. All this, he answered, that he had 
taken into consideration, but the rage for illustrated works was 
so great, that he had no doubt of success, if I would write the 
Poem. I did not like to give the poor man a decided ■ No/ 
So he returned by the Mail last night as he came. I mention 
this to you, because you were talking of having the Evenings in 
Greece illustrated, and it is at least a bookseller's opinion in 
favour of the success of such a plan." " I send you a portion 
of the Second Evening corrected for the Press," &c. 

Two Letters, one 8vo., one 12mo., 4th and 16th May, 1832 

"I send you some more of the Evening." "Bishop is, I 
must say, very provoking. I send his account book back." 
" We are both much obliged by your kind note, but it is not 
the intention of either of us to come to town for some time. I 
was myself about to start for Ireland when the melancholy news 
[of his mother's death] reached me." 

Four Letters, one 4to., two 8vo., one irregular, i lth June, 1st, 
8th, and 14th July, 1832 
" I sent by mistake, yesterday, both of Bishop's settings of 
the Dying Warrior to his Sword, and want one of them (it 
does'nt matter which) back again to write words to, any time 
will do." " I was in Devizes from Thursday till yesterday 
evening, and did not receive your packet till my return." " I 
should be glad when you have occasion to write again that you 
would say through what channel the Collection of Irish Airs 
sent to me from America (which came in the last parcel) reached 
your hands." 

Three Letters, one Svo., two 12mo. (one of two sides), 6th, 8th, 
and 26th August, 1832 
" I am sorry to have been obliged to make bo much alteration 



171 

in the words of ' Welcome, sweet bird,' but it has, from the first 

given me a great deal of trouble, being a most awkward air to 

put words to." 

[On the back is ivritten and struck through.'] 

"Sloperton, August 6, 1832. 
" My Dear Sir, 

" I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. 
O'Connell at Bristol the other day, when we had a good 
deal of conversation on the subject to which you allude, 
and were it lucky my to have enjoyed the advan- 
tage. — " 

"I send you two Songs. 'The Russian Lover,' and 'Hush, sweet 
Lute,' and the reason of my troubling you with them on a Sun- 
day is to request that you will oblige Mr. Phipps by performing 
the inclosed commission for him. I forget the name of the 
fishmonger in your neighbourhood (whether it is Garbage or 
Groutage), but you will know the person I mean, and be so 
good as to mention that I recommended him." 
Three Letters, one 4to. (franked " Lansdowne"), two 8vo., 4th, 
7th, and 8th September, 1832 
" I return the Proofs and Revises, with (I am sorry to say) 
a few more corrections in the latter. I send you also a new 
Song, ' The days are gone,' which with two of the four others 
inclosed (you can take your choice) completes the number that 
were wanting to make up my due quantity. By my next parcel 
I shall send a third verse for ' The days are gone,' and your 
account book, as also the copy of the Pere La Chaise Anecdotes, 
which I am very sorry your daughter had the trouble of 
writing, as it was not that I wanted, but two or three transla- 
tions from Catullus, which were with it, and which I should 
be glad to have by the next parcel." " I send the third verse 
of ' The days are gone' — a very appropriate title for the last 
Song it is possible I may ever write for you. It is not without 
pain that I use these expressions, and I will hope for both our 
sakes that the result may be otherwise —but all will depend upon 



172 

the shape in which the enclosed Account Book is returned to 
me." " Have the goodness to say, in your next, the exact day 
on which my last bill upon you becomes due." " I send you 
a Melody. Will you have the goodness to ask at Ridgway's, 
Piccadilly, for a speech of Sir H. Parnell's this last Session, 
and send it to me when you have a parcel." "Many thanks 
for the nice oysters." " I had got this frank \i\ot posted] from 
Lord Lansdowne, but find he misdated it." 

Five Letters, one 4to., two 8vo., two 12ino., 5th and 16th 
October, 5th, 17th, and 30th November, 1832. 
" I forgot to say that the Guittar is wanted almost imme- 
diately, and you will therefore lose no time in sending it." " I 
have only time in dispatching the inclosed to express my sincere 
regret at your continued illness, and my hope that you will 
soon have better news to send me." " I rejoice to hear that 
you are so much better." " I have not time for more, but 
hope to hear that you are quite recovered." 
Four Letters, three 4to., one 8vo., 3rd, 15th, 26th, and 28th 
December, 1832 
" Pray forgive all this haste and trouble." " There is no- 
thing more necessary to be done, in the way of preface or 
advertisement for the Second Evening." " Mrs. Moore is 
much obliged for the copy of the Second Evening, and I am 
thankful to you for sending one to my sister." " We have to 
thank you for a very fine present of Fish, which has not only 
feasted ourselves but many of our neighbours." 
Unpublished MS. by Mr. Moore, in his autography Eight 
closely written pages, 4to, on three sheets of paper, with 
indorsement of date in pencil by Mr. Power, referring 
to September and November, 1827, and headed by Mr. 
Moore, " Sketches of Paris. Sketch the First — Pere la 
Chaise." 
Four Letters, 8vo., 1 1 th, 1 3th, and 2 1 st March, and 3rd April, 1 833 
" It gave me much pleasure to receive your note, and I regret 
having been obliged to defer our meeting so long— but as the 



173 

printer is at my heels, I am obliged to work all the first hours 
of the morning. On Wednesday, however, as soon after half- 
past ten as may suit you, I shall be very glad to see you." 
" I shall thank you to send as soon as you receive this, a copy 
of the two Evenings in Greece, directed to Miss Barbara 
Godfrey, 35, Berkely Square. She leaves town in the morning, 
and therefore I wish her to have the book to-night. I shall 
expect to see you to-morrow evening." " The dinner the other 
day was more of company than I expected, and accordingly I 
had not an opportunity of mentioning our business to Mr. 
Rees ; but as soon as my occupations will allow of my going 
out in the morning, I shall call upon him on the subject." 
" Mr. Rogers, to whom I have spoken, has consented to assist 
us in our object." " I was sorry not to be able to see you 
yesterday, being still very much occupied all the mornings — 
but if you can call here on Friday morning between ten and 
eleven I shall be glad to see you." 

Two Letters, 8vo. (one of two sides), 4th December, 1834, and 
21st November, 1835 
" I have to apologize for not sooner applying myself to the 
subject to which you drew my attention — but being busily em- 
ployed in sending off the first Copy of my Irish History to the 
press, as also fancying, that the task you sent me was something 
requiring more time than I find it actually does, I was induced 
to defer it till this moment. It strikes me (after turning the 
matter over in my mind a good deal) that the present Preface 
with the few alterations you will find made in it, is as good and 
apropos as any new one I could prefix. I have found, however, 
a most extraordinary erratum in the Letter Press of the Tenth 
Number, which cannot be allowed to go forth without correc- 
tion ; and if it was really in the proofs sent to me, nothing but 
the unlikelihood of such a mistake occurring could have pre- 
vented me from perceiving it. In order to turn aside the too 
strong application of the words of the Song, * To-morrow, Com- 
rad,' &c. to the present state of Ireland, I had taken care to 



174 

prefix to it ' Time, the Ninth Century,' and the Printer here, in 
order to saddle me with what I took so much pains to avoid, 
has made it the nineteenth Century! As a joke it wouldn't be 
bad, but from a Printer's devil it is rather too much. I meant 
to have said something more — but do not like to lose this post. 
Pray see that this passage is corrected." " Dec. 5. The parcel 
was, after all, too late yesterday, and I open my note to insert a 
few additional words. I think it but fair, after our long con- 
nexion together, to apprize you that I occasionally still occupy 
myself with music, and mean in the course of next Season to 
publish some single Songs (either single or in a set), and like- 
wise to finish a set of Sacred Songs which I have been from 
time to time employed upon. I shall only add that I have not 
yet entered into negociations. I inclose a letter which I re- 
ceived some time since from the Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald, on the 
subject of his intended work. I had better see a proof of the 
corrected Preface, and if you will have your inclosure left with 
the waiter at Brooks's it will come franked to me." " I have 
just recollected, in sending off these proofs, that I have another 
still uncorrected (' Not from Thee ') to send you. It shall go 
in the first parcel I am forwarding to the Longmans." " I 
should be obliged by your letting me have a set of proofs of 
these Songs for my own use when you are sending again — as I 
think you had better — at least revises of those in which I have 
made much correction." 

Four Letters, 8vo., 16th February, 10th, i 6th, and 2 1st March, 1836 
" I send back the proofs, and shall be obliged by your look- 
ing particularly to the restoration of the original accompaniment 
to a bar or two in the Song, * Go and forget it all.' I don't 
know how or by whom the accompaniment (which is Cheru^ 
bini's own) was altered or mangled, but it makes havoc of the 
whole Song." " I have not yet been able to satisfy myself in an 
Air to ' The days are gone,' but you shall have it before long." 

Mr. Power died on the 26th August, 1836. 



175 



NOTICE OF MR. POWER. 

[From the London Literary Gazette, vol. xx. No. 1024, p. 573.J 

" We have to record with feelings of sincere regret, the death 
of this eminent music-publisher, and most excellent man. He 
died on the evening of Friday the 26th ultimo at his house, 
22, Buckingham Street, Strand, after a very short illness, and at 
the age of seventy, according to the newspaper announcement. 

"As ' the noblest work of God' an honest man, and as an up- 
right tradesman, Mr. Power enjoyed the respect of every one to 
whom in the way of business he was known ; as well as the private 
friendship of many distinguished individuals, and the personal 
esteem of all who were capable of appreciating the moral dignity 
of his character. But it is as connected with national music and 
literature, that the name of James Power will long be remembered. 
He was the early and unostentatious patron, and subsequently, 
the steady friend of Moore, when adverse circumstances clouded 
the poet's fortune. 

" Mr. Power was born at Galway, in Ireland ; his parents were 
highly respectable, but they had the good sense, instead of allow- 
ing their son to grow up a fox-hunting gentleman, to apprentice 
him to a pewterer in his native town. By the same regularity of 
habit, and attention to business, which distinguished him in after 
life, James Power soon became so skilful an artificer, that he 
undertook to repair the bugles of a light infantry regiment, then 
quartered at Galway. This undertaking, although at the time 
he was perfectly ignorant of the construction of the instrument, 
was accomplished by him so skilfully, that the bugles and trum- 
pets of different regiments in Ireland, were sent to him for repair. 
Finding the reputation of his workmanship was daily increasing, 
Mr. Power removed to Dublin, and established himself in West- 
moreland Street as a military instrument manufacturer. This step 
involved the necessity of dealing a little in music, and he took a 
younger brother (Mr. William Power) into partnership, for the 
purpose of attending to his increasing business. 

" The demand in Dublin for lyrical compositions, induced Mr. 
Power to enter into the speculation of offering Mr. Moore, some 
of whose productions had already been published by him, the sum 
of fifty pounds for a set of twelve songs, adapted to Irish melodies, 
to be arranged by Sir John Stevenson. We have been told ths J 
the success of the first number of the ' Irish Melodies ' was 



176 

such as to induce the Messrs. Power to enter into an agreement 
with Mr. Moore, for an annuity of five hundred pounds for seven 
years, on condition of receiving from him a certain, and not very 
large number of songs. And this agreement was, we believe, 
twice subsequently renewed by Mr. James Power, who, shortly 
before the appearance of the second number of the ' Irish Melodies ' 
(October 1807), removed from Dublin to London, and commenced 
business as a music-publisher on his own account, at his present 
warehouse, No. 34, Strand. 

" The publications of Mr. Power embrace a collection of the 
compositions cf the most popular lyric writers of the last thirty 
years, which were always produced from his press in a style of 
neatness of embellishment, superior to all contemporary works. 
Many oi them have received a passing tribute of approbation at 
our hands, as a reference to the pages of the Literary Gazette 
will prove. But the principal work with which the name of 
James Power will remain proudly associated, is the collection 
of ' Irish Melodies ' by Moore, arranged by Stevenson and 
Bishop ; a publication which extends to ten numbers, with a sup- 
plemental one, which appeared at intervals between 1807 and 1834, 
a space of twenty-seven years, with undiminished popularity. The 
publisher, although as unostentatious a man as ever breathed, and 
lost strongly opposed to the tricks of puffery, appears himself to 
have felt a degree of honest pride out of his connection with this 
beautiful national work, from his having latterly adopted the pun- 
ning imprint of ' The Power of Melody ' around an Irish harp. 

" Mr. Power has left a widow and a large family, by whom no 
doubt his lucrative business will be carried on, as he possessed the 
copyright of many valuable musical and literary works." 




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